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Good Friday Prayer Processional in Pottstown

As Christians around the world observe Holy Week, the 15 year tradition of praying around and for Pottstown continues this week, with the Good Friday Prayer Processional, sponsored by the Pottstown Clergy Association.  In recent years, the event has become known as the Cross Walk, because the participants are led on the one mile walk through town by one person carrying a huge wooden cross, symbolic of the walk Jesus took to his crucifixion. 

My kids and I look forward to marking Good Friday with the Cross Walk every year, since my youngest was wrapped in blankets in his stroller. [They also look forward to our tradition of lunch at  The Very Best after the walk since all that walking always makes them hungry].

Reverend Kerry Pidcock-Lester, Co-Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown, started the walk to help people (and especially families with young children) find a way “to go from Palm Sunday to Easter and not miss what comes in between.”  Clergy from other Pottstown congregations share in praying for the government, the schools, the businesses and all the people of Pottstown. 

The walk begins on the lawn between Emmanuel Lutheran and Zion United Church of Christ on Hanover Street at 10:30am on Friday.  There is a time for children, aimed at helping the youngest walkers understand why they are walking, and then the mile walk begins.  With stops at the Cluster Outreach Center, the school administration building and even at Borough Hall, the walk winds its way a mile through town, ending again on the lawn between the churches.  In the event of rain, the event takes place indoors. 

With a late Easter this year, I am holding out hope for a warm walk; although this wet spring might have other plans for us.  The walk takes about an hour from start to finish and the prayers at each stop are accompanied by singing and soft flute playing.   If you are looking for a great way to observe Holy Week with your family or just on your own, come to the lawn at 10:30 and join in the walk through town.  It just might become your own Good Friday tradition. 

Participating Clergy/Congregations

Rev. Kerry Pidcock-Lester, First Presbyterian

Rev. Lynette Chapman, Emmanuel Lutheran

Rev. John Houghton, The Hill School

 Rev. Vernon Ross, Bethel AME

Rev. Bonnie Moore, Shenkel UCC

Rev. Sherry Lantz, Cedarville UMC

Rev. Rick Knarr, Grace Covenant Church

Rev. Rebecca Brenner, St. Paul’s UCC

Rev. Sanford Christophel, Coventry Church of the Brethren

Rev. W. Carter Lester, First Presbyterian

Friday, April 22 at 10:30 Am

Gather on the lawn between Emmanuel Lutheran and Zion UCC on Hanover Street.

Easter Egg Hunt and More at Gerald Richards Park

This Saturday, the Easter Bunny will be stopping by Gerald Richards Park in Lower Pottsgrove Township.  Bring the kids at 9:30 for an Easter egg hunt in the park, a “bunny hop” sack race and even photos with the Easter Bunny. 

In the case of rain (which seems more and more likely this spring) the egg hunt and other festivities will take place Sunday afternoon at 2pm. 

We visited Gerald Richards Park last fall during the Park Series, but it’s worth another look this spring as the township is working on some big plans for the park.   With over 30 acres, this park is home to the Pottsgrove Soccer club in spring and fall, but the township plans would greatly expand its use, adding a clubhouse, playground and more fields.  You can find more information about this project on the township website:

www.lowerpottsgrove.org

Positively!Pottstown Happy Hour Tonight!

In case you don’t have it on your calendar, Positively!Pottstown’s Happy Hour is tonight from 5pm to 7pm at the combined High Street Yoga and Academy of Massage space at 141 High Street.  Food will be provided by Churchills and the students of the massage school will even be giving chair massages.  As usual, the charge is just $5 per person to cover the cost of food and drinks. 

This  month’s event will not only serve its normal function of bringing together people who are excited and engaged in Pottstown’s revitalization,  it will also treat them to a movie premiere! 

 The Tri-County for a Cure Team, who you will remember is raising money for the Yoga on the Steps event, is going to unveil their video tonight.  Come out and see which local business owners and administrators decided to join the team in a bit of a yoga flash mob during their photo shoots last month.

Pottstown CLT website

Here’s a link to the Pottstown CLT website.

It’s at www.PottstownCLT.wordpress.com.

It’s a work-in-progress. A PowerPoint presentation will be posted there after the Monday meeting.

 

Did someone say “karaoke?”

This is news to me. If you’re into karaoke, you’ll want to check it out at Sunnybrook’s Chummy’s Tavern.

Karaoke Night At Sunnybrook
Tonight and every Thursday
8pm to 11pm.

Sing like a rock star with your friends!

No Cover- Drink Specials- and More

Danville, PA: “Each stride forward begets another.”

I am sending a HUGE thank-you out to Pottstown resident Andrew Kefer for sending along this article: “Welcome to Downtown Danville, the Vibrant Small Town You Never Expected.”

There are so many lessons here that could be immediately applied to Pottstown’s revitalization.

1) Create a “better business climate.”

2) Tap Montco college students for discrete planning and community development projects and give those students real-world experience.

3) Resurrect the facade improvement program. (Is PDIDA’s Facade Rehabilitation Loan program active?)

4) Promote arts district downtown. (Danville is doing a multi-year mural program: “To one degree or another, all murals should touch on Danville’s heritage and history,” said Danville Main Street manager, Jim Wilson. Although I think a mural program would be fantastic, in the post that follows this one, I’m going to suggest using the additional $45K from the re-painting of the Mrs. Smith building toward other economic development efforts. For me it’s a matter of timing and getting the most bang for the buck. )

5) Create a business incubator downtown. Get designated as a Keystone Innovation Zone to get grants to attract tech start-ups and entrepreneurs. (Is this state designation/funding still available?)

Thanks again to Andrew for this informative, idea-packed article!

 

Amity Community Park: An active family destination

Just when my kids were starting to get antsy about yet another park visit, we turned onto Weavertown Road and Amity Community Park came into view. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my husband had barely gotten the car into park when the kids were already opening their doors and setting out to explore the extensive playgrounds that the park offers.

Set behind the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, on Weavertown Road, across from the Amity Township Municipal Building and just before the Daniel Boone Middle School is this amazing community park. The Sunday afternoon we visited, the park was in constant motion. Tons of kids were on the playground, filling the space with high-pitched squeals, shouts of “you’re it!” and little voices pleading for just one more turn on the swings. That’s the good stuff of childhood and it was there in abundance in Amity Community Park.

With a perfect fall day as the backdrop-just a slight breeze and the still bright sun-we followed the walking path up to the pavilion where we could get a better view, both down to the playground and beyond to the expanse of ball fields, all full of players on this busy day. Teams from Daniel Boone Youth Sports were on some fields; others were occupied by the Berkshire Baseball Tournament League. And the telltale pop-up chairs and baseball bags all meant the same thing: fall baseball. 

In visiting all the parks in this series, I have noticed the variety of landscape we enjoy in this part of Pennsylvania. When you are in a park in Pottstown, you might notice that the walking path is steep in some places and flat in others. When you are standing in the middle of Amity Community Park, surrounded by the gorgeous fall foliage, you can’t help but notice that the landscape has changed dramatically thanks to the mountains of even this eastern portion of Berks County.

We made our way back to the playground where, as usual, the kids hit every single piece of equipment that spins, while my husband and I took advantage of the gazebo that sits between the two playgrounds for a little rest and some shade. Amity Community Park is a great, active destination for families.

Another thing to note about Amity Community Park, and the other parks in this township, is that they are open early and late – from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. After speaking with township officials, I learned that the township Board of Supervisors voted to extend the park hours for people who want to use the walking trails. While the park is open late, the trails are not lit. If you’re out after dark, or before the sun comes up, bring a flashlight and a friend. The pavilion and parking lot are the only lighted areas. 

AMITY COMMUNITY PARK
Location: On Weavertown Road, just west of the intersection with Route 662 (Old Swede Road), across from the Municipal Building. Use 2004 Weavertown Road, Douglassville, PA 19518
Size: 44.6 acres
Suitability: Plan a family outing to Amity Community Park for the playgrounds and stay to watch a baseball game or have lunch at the covered pavilion. With paved walkways and a gently sloped walking trail, the whole family can enjoy this park.
Facilities: Playgrounds, open space, picnic tables and covered pavilion, seating area with shade, baseball fields, football/soccer/field hockey fields and internal trails
Hours: 6 AM to 11PM If you’re looking for somewhere to get your exercise early in the morning or late in the evening, the Amity parks are the place to go.

Amity Township
2004 Weavertown Road
Douglassville, PA 19518
610-689-6000
Website: http://www.amitytownshippa.com/
Recreational Facilities webpage

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

PHOTO GALLERY






Happy 4th!

Check out the Positively!Pottstown and Code Blue raffle to benefit the July 4th Committee – we’ll be at the tent where there’s the sound booth & Senior Center car raffle. We may also be roaming the park.

Also, look for the Positively!Pottstown re-usable bags – they’re screaming orange and will be given away at random!

Have a safe and fun holiday!

Positively!Pottstown re-usable bag

Gone fishing…

Well, I’m not really fishing, but I am immersing myself in stories and conversations about the craft of writing, as I continue in a part-time master’s program away from home. I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you, dear readers! I’ve got a few posts in mind, but haven’t had enough time to get them down here. Maybe in the next day or so…

Till then, take care 🙂

Sue

Whew!

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that I’m getting a master’s in creative writing through a low-residency program in Vermont, and I have a big packet of work due at the end of every month (until Jan. 2012). I really pushed it to the last minute this past weekend, but it’s in the mail, and I will be posting a Pottstown restaurant profile within the next 24 hours. See you then!

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