Category: Revitalization

SCORE Scholarships Available

POSITIVELY!POTTSTOWN
SCORE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
January 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2011

Positively!Pottstown, a community blog dedicated to promoting Pottstown, is offering two $100 scholarships for an upcoming Small Business Workshop Series taught by members of Pottstown SCORE. Positively Pottstown scholarships are available to anyone who is already running a business in Pottstown or who is planning to open a business in Pottstown.

SCORE is the Service Corps of Retired Executives, a nonprofit association sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Association. Course instructors are experienced practitioners who teach practical, real-life skills and strategies for those interested in starting a business or learning how to run their business better. By attending a SCORE workshop, entrepreneurs will also be introduced to a network of supportive professionals who want to see you succeed.

The next workshop series will be held on January 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2011. Registration begins at 6:45 pm for all workshops, which then run from 7-9:30 pm. The course includes a manual on preparing a business plan.

January 10 – Sources of Information, and the Tax and Legal Implications of the Different Legal Structures
January 17 – The Business Plan and The Business Loan
January 24 – Sources of Market Information and Marketing
January 31 – It’s All About Profit

For more detail, visit SCORE’s website at http://www.pottstownscore.org. Please note: The January workshops will be held at the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce Conference Center, 152 E. High Street, Suite 360, Pottstown, PA 19464.

To be considered for a scholarship, please cut-and-paste and fill out the application below in Word or an email. On a separate page, write a few paragraphs about your current business or your business plans; include some information about your past business/work experience. You do not need to submit a résumé.

Please mail or e-mail the application and your written statement by December 28, 2010 (e-mail & postmark deadline) to one of the addresses below. Winners will be contacted and announced here on January 3, 2011. Visit www. PositivelyPtown.com. Questions? Call 609-658-9043.

Sue Repko
c/o Positively Pottstown Blog
P.O. Box 1509
Pottstown, PA 19464
OR
positivelypottstown@gmail.com

POSITIVELY!POTTSTOWN
a community blog at http://www.PositivelyPtown.com

 

 

POSITIVELY!POTTSTOWN

SCORE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

January 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2011

Positively!Pottstown $100 scholarships for SCORE workshops are available to anyone who is running a business in Pottstown or planning to open a business in Pottstown.

Please type or print clearly:

Name:___________________________       Phone:_____________________

Address:__________________________       Mobile: ____________________

City:_____________________________       E-mail: _____________________

State: ________________ Zip:________        Website: ____________________

Business Name:____________________     Phone:______________________

Address:__________________________       Mobile: _____________________

City:_____________________________       E-mail: _____________________

State: ________________ Zip:_______           Website: ____________________

The following information must accompany the application:

□ Write 2-3 paragraphs about your current business or your business plans; include some

information about your past business/work experience. You do NOT need to submit a

résumé.

□ Is your business or proposed business located in the Borough of Pottstown?

Circle one: Yes   No

□ Would you be willing to be quoted in future press releases about SCORE workshops or the

Positively!Pottstown scholarship? Please note: This is NOT required to receive the

scholarship. Circle one: Yes   No

□ I certify that the information provided in this application is true & complete.

Signature________________________  Date ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________________________

Send to:

Positively Pottstown Blog

P.O. Box 1509

Pottstown, PA 19464

Or

PositivelyPottstown@gmail.com

Must be postmarked or received via e-mail by: December 28, 2010

(Scholarships are non-transferable. Recipients will receive a certificate good for the

January 2011 Small Business Workshop Series, including manual.)

 

Economic & community development… To-do list

I feel like I’ve been neglecting this blog. On the other hand, because of this blog, the seeds of a whole bunch of ideas and activities were planted and now they need some cultivation & tending… which is happening out in the real world, not online. So, here’s my list of things to do ASAP. I will put up related posts as quickly as I can. Maybe by posting this & being held accountable to you, my readers, I can check some of these things off the list!

1) Announce SCORE scholarships! Two $100 scholarships for Pottstown-based business owners to attend the January workshops to be held at the Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce. (Positively!Pottstown now has a Pottstown P.O. Box — 1509. I’m still trying to convince myself that that’s a lucky number…)

2) Highlight all the awesome things happening this weekend in P-town.

3) Finish my part of a grant app. to get visitors off the River trail and into the downtown. Marketing the arts, historic, recreational & culinary resources — yeah!!

4) Make edits to Community Land Trust powerpoint & get back out to working group.

5) Send out eVite for Happy Hour! This has been posted here (see right sidebar) for several weeks but I forgot to send out the eVite!! (Happy Hour is this Wed., Dec. 15, 5-7 pm at The Brickhouse. Take time out from the insanity of the holidays to hang out! Nothing fancy, just a good, old-fashioned Happy Hour. Reduced prices on drinks & appetizers. (Happy Hour certificate donated by Katy Jackson – thanks, Katy!) I have some petty cash from the last Happy Hour, so get there early to take advantage of some free appetizers until the $$ runs out!

6) Housing data analysis… totally unrealistic to think I’m going to get to this today… but it goes on the list!

Is this insane? I don’t know. I learned to multi-task while waitressing, scooping ice cream and washing dishes at The Cup at the corner of Charlotte & Wilson way, way back in the day. You had to do everything… always with a smile. 🙂 (I would love to see that place open again.)

Hometown Holidays draw crowds

Last Friday night, there was so much going on downtown that there was no way I could take it all in. Fortunately the action continues this coming Friday, Dec. 10 and the following Friday, Dec. 17. Here’s what I did do…

Remembering Rev. H. L. Butler
I actually kicked off my Hometown Holiday Celebration by dropping in on the tail end of the Pottstown Firebirds luncheon at Brookside Country Club. The reminiscences were in full swing. I just love hearing stories about antics from days-gone-by and this crew had plenty of them. Later, there was more schmoozing with the team at The Gallery’s Open House. You might want to consider purchasing a poster, “Hometown Heroes,” which honors that championship team and was painted by local artist, Mary Ellen Christ. The Gallery also has a wealth of unique gift items in every price range. Last year I got my mom a stained glass cross that hangs in her kitchen window, catching the morning light. It’s something to reflect on every single day. I’ll be back in town this week to do some shopping & I can’t wait; you never know what you’ll find!

Pine Forge Academy Choir
After I left The Gallery, I heard the Pine Forge Academy Choir down at Smith Plaza and caught up with some folks – there was a very nice crowd there all night long. But before too long, my toes were going numb. No matter – I just hopped across the street to Churchill’s and got a melted cheese and tomato pannini. That hit the spot. Churchill’s is so beautifully decorated, and there was a steady crowd as people purchased tickets for the horse-drawn carriage rides. There was a line all night, so get there early this Friday, Dec. 10th so you don’t miss the chance for a charming ride down High Street.

Churchill's on Friday night
After that, I dashed up to St. Al’s, looking for my mom, and caught some of the Charlie Brown performance happening in Begly Hall. But, alas, no sign of my mom. I failed her again! (Like my father, I talk too much and then I don’t show up where I’m supposed to be at the right time.)

There are so many more things I need to do in the coming weeks… look at all the decorated storefronts and vote online at The Mercury, see A Christmas Carol at Tri-PAC – it is getting rave reviews! – take a carriage ride… and maybe sit on Santa’s lap. I’ve got some pretty big wishes for Pottstown for the coming year… maybe he can help. 🙂

Playing catch-up…

1. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer. Put my last packet of writing for this term into the mail about an hour ago. Brain = fried.

2. The previously mentioned Holiday Hop must, unfortunately, be canceled. Wait. It’s actually it’s not that unfortunate because I will still be there! And I will still be hopping from one place to another and “laughing all the way,” as the song goes. But I didn’t have time to properly advertise it and get all the hoo-ha and goodies organized, and the few people I heard from who were interested in the Hop will be out on the town with their families, so we will run into each other here and there, but not Hop as a group.

3. PLEASE, PLEASE come downtown tomorrow night to check out all the fabulous decorations, fun activities, shopping and merriment!! The Mercury describes a lot of it right here. I will be at the Firebirds lunch tomorrow and The Gallery Open House beginning at 5 pm at 254 E. High Street before hopping around town.

4. Get your tickets for A CHRISTMAS CAROL! It opens at Tri-PAC at 245 E. High Street tonight and runs the next few weeks. I’ll put up a separate post later but get it on your calendar now. Here’s a sneak preview from The Mercury.

5. Last but not least: HAPPY HANNUKAH!! to all readers observing the holiday. May your latkes be crisp and your home filled with the glow and warmth of the Menorah candles.

Holidays kick into high gear in downtown P-Town!

Okay, it’s official: There’s a lot on tap during the month of December, and we here at Positively!Pottstown want to do our part to make your head spin.

Please check out the updated calendar here and check back every few days because I’m sure I haven’t gotten everything in there yet. For one thing, I’m still nailing down the details of my own High Street Holiday Hop, but rest assured, it IS happening this Friday, December 3rd, and it will be loads of fun with lots of free drawings for cool stuff! The idea of the Holiday Hop is to roam the downtown with like-minded, upbeat holiday carousers, see all the decorations, stop in at businesses, make merry, hear talented singers, sit on Santa’s knee, and support the whole crazy notion of Pottstown having a lively commercial center!!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR POSITIVELY!POTTSTOWN HOLIDAY HOP

5-6 PM Meet-up at The Gallery on High at 254 High St.(NOTE NEW LOCATION) for their Annual Holiday Party & meet legendary Pottstown Firebirds football champs!! Get your free Positively!Pottstown Santa hat! Win a Firebirds t-shirt!

6-6:30 PM Stop in at Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches & decorate an ornament for the Borough tree!

6:30-7:30 PM Still being planned… salon visit and free drawing for manicure… stop at Tri-PAC…

7:45-9 PM Head to Smith Plaza at catch the Pine Forge Academy Choir, hang your ornament on the Borough tree, sit on Santa’s knee, free drawing for 2 carriage rides down High Street! Wind down with warm drinks & dessert at Churchill’s!

**Free Santa hats to the first 20 Holiday Hoppers that rsvp to positivelypottstown@gmail.com**

One arrest announced. We must go on.

It’s quiet here lately because the recent violence in town has definitely gotten to me. I’m worried about my friends and everyone who’s living in the midst of this. And I’m reminded that if the streets of Pottstown are not safe, our revitalization dreams are pretty much out of reach. It’s a sobering thought – that challenges which are already fairly monumental become flat-out impossible in an environment of violence and fear.

The early morning arrest of the alleged shooter from this past Sunday is welcome news. The report of a stabbing early this morning in the general vicinity of the shooting is not. Still, we must go on.

I recently received an email from Citizens for Pottstown’s Revitalization regarding the need for Block Captains in organizing a strategy for increased civic participation in keeping streets safe. Here is an excerpt below:

“Please reply by Dec. 3rd if you would like to serve as a BLOCK CAPTAIN. (Our first meeting will be organized ASAP to define our roles and strategy)

To help keep us safe the Pottstown PD has generously offered:
Collaborating for Town Watch Patrols
Specialized Witness Training
The Civilian Police Academy

If interested in participating please reply by Dec. 3rd with your selections so the coordinating can begin.”

The email address is vivapottstown@hotmail.com.

Check out this gorgeous renovation on High St.!

The Mercury has a great feature on Brian and Lori Patrick’s renovation of 221 E. High Street. They’re operating Affinity Property Management out of the first floor and are living on the second and third floors. I just met Mr. Patrick this past Friday, but didn’t realize they’d also made the building their home.

Judging from the photos, they have done an outstanding job using many local contractors and local architect, P. Richard Frantz (did I ever tell you that I used to be Mr. Frantz’s “papergirl”? My first job: delivering the daily Philadelphia Bulletin & the Sunday Inquirer.)

I hope this article lets others see & believe the amazing potential offered by Pottstown’s historic buildings!

WOW.

The PDIDA office at 139 E. High Street was packed last night with more than 60 people who might best be described as “hungry for conversation.” The food was barely touched, and there was no need for background music. There were just a couple breaks for announcements and to give away two tickets to the First Annual Costume Ball at the Elks on Dec. 17 (thank you, Leighton Wildrick!) and three $20 gift certificates to Funky Lil’ Kitchen (thank you, Chef Michael Falcone!)

Otherwise, there was non-stop networking & brainstorming & sharing among a cross-section of area residents, business owners, entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders, and public officials. Let’s nurture this and keep it going.

Due to the events downtown on Fridays in December, the next Happy Hour is on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 5-7 pm at the Brickhouse. Thank you to Katy Jackson for donating a Brickhouse Happy Hour gift certificate for that. Appetizers & drinks will be available at reduced rates, and Positively!Pottstown will buy appetizers until the petty cash runs out!

In the meantime, follow up, keep in touch, take the next step.

Come downtown & build community

It’s Friday afternoon, do you know where your friends are?

They might be at the monthly Postively!Pottstown Happy Hour! It starts in just one hour and runs til 7 pm. It’s at the PDIDA office at 139 E. High Street. $5 gets you refreshments, a free chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Funky Lil’ Kitchen and the opportunity to network with more than 60 people already signed up! Walk-ins welcome!

At 7 pm there’s a Neighborhood Watch meeting at the PAL building at 146 King Street. All are welcome there to meet neighbors and figure out ways to make Pottstown a safer place. Hope to see you there!

p.s. As I type, I can see a tree getting decorated over on Smith Plaza. Hometown Holidays are coming up – Dec. 3, 10, 17. More on that soon!

Law enforcement & citizens must become a team

Below is a copy of a post sent to The Mercury in response to the article on last night’s community meeting at Invictus Ministries at 79 N. Hanover. Of course, it’s my opinion, but I’m also trying to be objective in my observations. There’s a lot of work to be done – essential work that greatly impacts the town’s entire future.

“Thank you so much to Bishop Everett Debnam for hosting and leading this effort. I hope this wasn’t a once-and-done meeting. It is only the first step – letting everyone blow off steam. In my opinion, the meeting did not move into a constructive, problem-solving mode. Realistically, that was probably not possible on the first go-round; you usually can’t skip steps when repairing or re-building relationships.

What came across: 1) There are long-standing problems with how the public perceives their police. 2) Law enforcement officials do need more citizen participation/witnesses, but almost seemed to be blaming the citizens & putting it all back on them. This is not the last we’re going to hear on these matters. Okay. Everyone needs to try to do better.

For me, key pieces of new information were: Local and Philly gangs have been feuding over drug-turf in town… since 2006! This year police cut foot patrols in the core neighborhoods. Shootings have escalated in the core throughout 2010. The police are re-instating the patrols in January 2011.

Okay. There’s no going back. It is what it is… unless I got that wrong.

This has to be a multi-stage process. The D.A. did say that as well. This is just the beginning. Relationships have to be built. Like most relationship problems, this one is rooted in communication. There need to be constructive, visible steps taken to improve communications & get results. My starter wishlist:

1) Put the tip line phone numbers on the home page of the PD’s website, not buried on other pages.

2) Put information about the “witness training” program, which was mentioned at the meeting, on the PD home page.

3) Release some meaningful crime statistics to the public now and follow-up on those statistics every quarter.

4) Borough: charge ahead on code enforcement!

5) Citizens: Introduce yourself to the officers on the beat in your neighborhood! Go to the Town Watch meetings EVERY 3rd Friday. Meeting this Friday, PAL building, 146 E. King Street, 7 pm.)

6) Schedule a follow-up meeting – maybe in 2 months at Invictus? Commit to building the relationship between citizens and law enforcement. It requires “face-time.” The monthly happy hours I’m hosting as part of economic revitalization efforts are built on the same premise. You can’t get things done as a team if you don’t know and trust your teammates. (All are invited to those, by the way. See website & rsvp.)

7) I personally would like to get donations and a motion sensor lighting program underway. A small step, but it’s something.

Sue Repko
Positively!Pottstown
http://www.positivelyptown.com”

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