Category: People

LASER LIGHT SHOW AND GHOSTS AT POTTSTOWN LIBRARY this Thursday night

Check out this fun and spooky event coming up this Thursday night at the Pottstown library at 500 E. High Street… from Leslie Stillings, Director of Youth Services.

On a chilly autumn night in a dark library, the Pottstown Regional Public Library will be hosting a ghost storyteller and Laser Light show on Thursday, October 4 from 7-9 pm. Charles Adams III, famed author of numerous East Coast ghost story books will be telling tales and signing copies in this Laser and Legends event. Also, Wondergy will be performing a Laser Light Show set to the music of “Thriller” and various artists.

This is an event that will entertain and enthrall.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children.  The Laser Show and Ghost stories by Charles Adams III will be a great way to spend an evening out. Proceeds benefit the youth department of the Pottstown Regional Public Library.  Tickets are available ahead of time or at the door.  For more information, contact the Pottstown Regional Public Library:

500 E. High Street
Pottstown, Pa. 19464

Phone: 610-970-6551

Fax: 610-970-6553

E-mail: pottstownlibrary@mclinc.org

Website: ppl.mclinc.org

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/prplibrary?ref=ts

Homeschoolers invited to Pottsgrove Manor on Oct. 5th

This comes to us from the folks at Pottsgrove manor…

On Friday, October 5, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm, homeschoolers are invited to historic Pottsgrove Manor for a fun-filled and educational field trip that will let them explore the skills, trades, and pastimes of the 18thcentury.

Around the grounds, children will be able to participate in hands-on activities led by Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and volunteers, including candle-dipping, quill pen writing, historic toys and games, laundry, and colonial dress-up.  Guests will get to visit with farm animals like sheep and rabbits and learn how their hair would be spun into yarn.  Participants will also see demonstrations of 18th-century crafts, open-hearth cooking, and food preservation.  The first floor of the Pottsgrove Manor mansion will be open for self-guided tours, with volunteers stationed in the rooms to share the house’s history and answer questions.  The museum shop will be open for the purchase of books, games, souvenirs, and more.

This program is ideal for elementary-aged students and is open to individual homeschool families, homeschool groups, and small school and church groups.  The cost is $5 per child.  Call 610-326-4014 to pre-register or for more information.  Activities will be ongoing throughout the day; allow at least two hours for the visit.  As most activities will be outdoors, this program will be held weather-permitting.  Limited parking and handicapped spots are available in the Pottsgrove Manor parking lot.  Visitors may also park directly across on King Street in the Quality Inn parking lot.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00 pm and Sunday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm.  Tours are given on the hour.  The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm.  Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.  For more information and a full calendar of events, visit the website at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.  Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.

Assistant Superintendent at Pottstown to step up in wake of Lindley resignation

In what is turning out to be a day for education-related posts, please see Frank Otto’s Mercury story today about Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Sparagana agreeing to put off his retirement in order to become acting Superintendent through this school year as the  district seeks a permanent replacement for Dr. Reed Lindley, who resigned unexpectedly on September 20th. A huge “thank you” goes out to Dr. Sparagana and his family for continuing to serve the community in this capacity.

“Pottstown Asst. Superintendent Sparagana to put off retirement” by Frank Otto.

Eastern Slavic music concert CDs and DVDs now available

Last spring area residents were treated to a concert of Eastern Slavic music performed by a stellar group of singers known as the Westminster Slavic Choir. If you would like to re-experience that uplifting afternoon or hear the Choir for the first time, a professionally produced DVD and CD are now available.  CD’s are $15 and DVD’s are $20. See ordering details below.

The concert was performed by the Westminster Slavic Choir in April at St. John The Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Pottstown, Pa.  The well-attended, acclaimed performance included works by composers Bortniansky, Vedel, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Hurko, as well as traditional chant.  Selections were performed in English as well as Old Slavonic.

The Westminster Slavic Choir features students of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, N.J.  The vocalists all are either vocal performance or music education majors at Westminster, a division of Westminster College of the Arts, a residential college of music located in Princeton, N.J.  Westminster is a four-year music college and graduate school that prepares men and women for careers as professional performers and as music leaders in schools, universities, churches, and professional and community music organizations. As Westminster Choir College students, the talented young men and women of the Slavic Choir join their peers in performing with the world’s leading orchestras in venues ranging from the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York.

    The chamber choir is directed by Andrew Skitko, a native of Pottstown, Pa.  Andrew has begun his master’s degree in vocal performance at Westminster this fall.  Andrew also serves as the cantor and music director at The Assumption of The Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church of Trenton, N.J. (Very Rev. Gregory Noga, pastor),where the Westminster Slavic Choir performs about once a month.  Andrew also assists at St. John’s in Pottstown, his home parish and where he first began cantoring (Fr. Nicholas DeProspero, pastor).  Recently Andrew participated in a seminar focusing on the interpretation of Slavic church music at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary with leading expert Vladimir Gorbik, choral director at the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery, and Artistic Director and Conductor of the professional men’s chorus formed at the Metochion in Moscow, Russia.

To obtain a copy of the DVD and/or CD, please email Andrew at andrewskitko@gmail.com or write to him at 101 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540, and include your preference and quantity as well as your mailing address. CD’s are $15 and DVD’s are $20. A 2 CD set of Resurrection Matins & Divine Liturgy is available for $20. The choir is also available for concert and liturgical performance – contact Mr. Skitko for booking information.

Pet Fair and MOSAIC Open Garden this Saturday!

There are two awesome outdoor events this weekend in Pottstown!

#1 The Pottstown Pet Fair 2012  in Smith Family Plaza (right in front of Borough Hall) is welcoming all kinds of pet-related businesses, services, and organizations for a pet- and family-friendly fair. It takes place from 9 am to 3 pm.

 

Evan Brandt’s blog post, “Something to Bark About”, gives all the details, including the fact that there will be ministers on hand from 10 am to 2 pm to bless all animals, although I’m not sure if that includes the 2-legged variety. There will also be a butterfly garden and food vendors.

To get to Smith Family Plaza, one of Pottstown’s premier public park spaces, plug 100 E. High Street into your GPS.

#2 MOSAIC Community Land Trust is holding an Open Garden from 12-2 pm at Pottstown’s first community garden at 423 Chestnut Street between Franklin & Washington Streets!

If you’d like to see the many plots that have produced hundreds of pounds of veggies this season, learn how to make salsa, and pick some fresh veggies to take home – depending on what’s available – plan to stop by the garden between 12-2 pm this Saturday, Sept. 22nd. See details here.

I am out of town (writing), so I will miss this event, but this was my labor of love this past winter/spring/summer, and I can’t wait to get back and experiment with growing a few crops into early winter.

And if you like what you see and hear and taste, you can get on a list for a plot for your family for next year!

Year of the Young Woman series continues at YWCA with panel on “Advocacy”

RSVP TODAY!

Saturday, Sept. 22 is fast approaching!

DON’T DELAY-SIGN UP TODAY!

The YWCA is a voice for every woman and your  voice needs to be included! Use your voice to advocate for the issues that are important to you.

Don’t miss this opportunity to attend a unique program for girls and women at the YWCA, 315 King St. on Saturday, September 22, 1:30-3:30pm. RSVP your attendance to 610-323-1888 for the YWCA’s YEAR OF THE YOUNG WOMAN “Girl Talk” series event. The topic is “ADVOCACY.”

A diverse panel of girls and women ages 15 and older will share information, tell about their advocacy efforts, and answer questions that will assist others to advocate on behalf of other people and issues.

Panel members are Honorable Judge Cheryl Lynne Austin of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas; Judy Watts, Attorney; Arizona Brennan, student and president of Spark the Wave Club; Chloe Klaus, student and member of Spark the Wave Club; Dr. Keisha MorantWilliams, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences; Marlene Armato, Montgomery County Executive Committee Member; Renée Spaide, Vice President Upper Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners; and Valerie Jackson, YWCA Tri-County Area Board of Directors 

 

YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT.

 SPEAK OUT!

YWCA Tri-County Area

315 King Street

Pottstown, PA 19464

(610)323-1888, x202

National Art Tour opens at Art Fusion 19464 TODAY!

 ArtFusion 19464, formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown@ Gallery on High, is kicking off its re-branding campaign today, September 7th, with an amazing art exhibit that has been traveling throughout the south and was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2011.

Threads of a Story: Continued features the work of artist Charlotta Janssen, who was inspired by mug shots of
famous–and non famous–people arrested during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The swearing in of the first black president of the United States in 2009 was a catalyst for the artist, and Threads evolved as a way to visually thank participants of the civil rights movement for their work and dedication that made the moment possible.

Janssen specifically honors Bus Boycotters from 1956 and Freedom Riders from 1961. The artist’s goals are to transport the viewer back to these moments in our country’s history, to create a living history and bring awareness to a collective
consciousness where segregation seemed normal and fighting it was a daunting task. To realize these goals, Janssen re-imagines the mug shots of her subjects using oil, acrylic, rust and collage. Mug shots are normally portraits of shame, but in those belonging to the Bus Boycotters and Freedom Riders, she sees their heroism, determination and courage.

The exhibit at the Gallery will feature eight brand new portraits in this incredible series, including new portraits of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. Also on display will be giclee prints of 15 of her portraits from the original series. The show will open with a private reception on September 7 and then the show will be open to the public from September 8 through October 20, 2012 during normal Gallery hours. Educational field trips for local school and groups can also be arranged. Interested groups should email info@galleryonhigh.com or call 610-326-2506 for more information.

Charlotta Janssen was born in Maine to German parents living in America under the Marshall plan. In 1973, her family moved to Iran, which they fled during the revolution in 1979. Janssen studied painting at the University of Arts in Berlin from 1986-1989, dropping out to travel the world as a street musician and performance artist. To make sense of all of these experiences, she returned to painting in 1991 with a clear voice that was no longer searching but finding. She currently lives and paints augmented portraiture in Brooklyn, NY.

ArtFusion 19464 (formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown) is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art school and gallery. The School offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. The Gallery on High hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The Gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The Gallery on High is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-4:30pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The Gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

Art Fusion 19464
254 E. High St.
Pottstown, PA  19464
610-326-2506
info@artfusion19464.org
www.artfusion19464.org

MCCC Opens New University Center in Downtown Pottstown

There is plenty of great news coming out of Montgomery County Community College in recent weeks. In the next few posts, I will be passing it along. There are many different reasons to check out what Montco is offering to residents of the region – education, the arts, a leg up in a job search, and major contributions to Pottstown’s revitalization. You name it, Montco is doing it.~Sue Repko

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) celebrated the opening of its new University Center on Aug. 21, expanding its West Campus to the former AAA East Penn building at 95 South Hanover St., and building on its vision to create a thriving urban campus in downtown Pottstown.

First introduced in 2006, MCCC’s University Center offers an entrepreneurial approach to expanding higher education opportunities for residents of the Tri-County region. Through partnerships with four-year institutions – Albright College, Chestnut Hill College, Temple University and Villanova University – students can choose from eight bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and one graduate certificate.

During the event, MCCC President Dr. Karen A. Stout addressed the importance of expanding access to higher education opportunities for the region.

“Before we introduced the innovative University Center model, our graduates had to travel to the greater Reading and Philadelphia areas to continue their education in baccalaureate and graduate degree programs. However, for many of our students and community members in the Tri-County region, this commute simply isn’t possible,” she said. “Therefore, the University Center becomes more than a place where our partner institutions lease space to teach their classes on our campus. It becomes part of a much larger pipeline in terms of building student access to higher education.”

Charles Roberts, alumnus of both MCCC and Albright College, shared his personal educational journey through the University Center.

“I cannot begin to tell you where I would be without having the University Center. I was able me to attend class as a working adult and as someone who could not attend class the traditional college way.  I may never have attempted a bachelor’s program unless the University Center existed,” said Roberts, who has since earned a master’s degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College and who works in MCCC’s Enrollment Services department.

Dr. Lex O. McMillan III, president of Albright College in Reading spoke about the longstanding relationship with MCCC, describing it as a “thriving, healthy partnership.”

“Montgomery County Community College has the largest onsite degree completion programs of our satellite campuses,” he told the roomful of attendees. “In the 2011-12 year, 6,135 credits were transferred from MCCC, and 130 Albright students are enrolled in the degree completion program (at the University Center).”

The University Center project is made possible through a public-private partnership and lease agreement with Vesper Property Group, the building’s owner and developer. The new 10,500 square foot facility includes six classrooms with smart and videoconference technology, a student lounge and reception area. The entire facility is secured through electronic card access, and a front desk concierge is available to greet students and answer questions.

In addition to creating a new home and identity for the University Center, the new facility frees up existing classroom space at MCCC’s North and South halls – space that is greatly needed to accommodate an unprecedented 60 percent enrollment growth at the West Campus over the past five years.

For more information about the University Center, visit here.

#          #          #

Photo above provided by MCCC:  MCCC President Dr. Karen A. Stout (center) cuts the ribbon for the new University Center facility. She is joined by (from left) MCCC and Albright alumnus Charles Roberts; Representative Marcy Toepel; MCCC Board of Trustees Chairman Michael D’Aniello; Albright College President Dr. Lex O. McMillan III; Senator John Rafferty; Representative Tom Quigley; Montgomery County Commissioners Vice Chairman Leslie Richards; and Vice President of MCCC’s West Campus Dr. Steady Moono.

2j Photography wants to make mark in Pottstown

  Photographer Joanna Floyd was born and raised in South Carolina and moved to Pottstown about six years ago. Her new business, 2j Photography, is now open for business.

What does 2j stand for? They are the first initials of Joanna and her husband, although it’s primarily her business.

“I have found that Pottstown has been so welcoming and has a great sense of unity,” she said. “One thing that has amazed me is everyone in Pottstown is so open to networking and working together as a community. That’s the reason I want to make my mark here.”

Joanna has always had a passion for photography, but only as a hobby until recently. She started doing freelance photography about six months ago, without formal schooling in the field. She was mentored by other photographers and taught herself through trial and error. She prefers to shoot in natural light on location.

One of her first gigs, which is ongoing, is capturing activities and events at Pottstown Karate/Crossfit, located at 21 N. Hanover Street. “Robert Matthews’  whole team has been so helpful and supportive, and it’s been a great learning experience,” said Floyd. “I shoot their events as well as participate in the Crossfit program.”
Floyd’s photography has also featured models, artists, musicians, fitness classes, and outdoor events. 2jPhotography offers specials for businesses. For more information, call 610/350/5268 or visit their website at www.2jphotography.zenfolio.com

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