Free Slavic sacred music concert to be presented in Pottstown

Due to the overwhelming success of the 2012 concert, voices from the Westminster Choir College return to Pottstown! I attended last year’s concert and it was outstanding.

A concert of sacred hymns and liturgical music of the Slavic tradition will be presented by the Theoria Chamber Choir at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 23rd, in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 301 Cherry Street, Pottstown, Pa. The concert is free and open to the public; a free will offering will be accepted. Please note that the church is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible via the ramp in the rear parking lot.

The Theoria Chamber Choir features students and alumni of Westminster Choir College, 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. Westminster choirs perform annually in venues including the Kimmel Center, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall, and various groups are professionally recorded as they perform well-known composers’ new and other arrangements.

Drew Skitko, Theoria Chamber Choir Director

Theoria Chamber Choir is directed by Andrew Skitko, a native of Pottstown, and graduate of The Hill School. Skitko also serves as the cantor and music director at The Assumption of The Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church of Trenton, N.J., where Theoria Chamber Choir performs about once a month. Skitko also has been a cantor at St. John’s church.

In April 2012, the Westminster Slavic Choir, also under Skitko’s direction, performed at St. John’s church to a crowd that included many people who had never before heard the traditional Slavic music and asked Skitko to return to perform another concert. Due to keen interest, Skitko was eager to return to Pottstown with the Theoria Chamber Choir, a four-part group of powerful, professionally trained voices.

“Performing in Pottstown allows us to share this beautiful music with my hometown and support Pottstown’s growing, diverse arts presence,” said Skitko.

Joining Skitko, a baritone, will be Liesl McPherrin, soprano, Lauren Delfing, alto, and Brett Avery-Lawyer, tenor.

The concert will feature sacred liturgical choral works by composers including Bortniansky, Tchaikovsky, Vedel, and Hurko. Selections will be performed in English as well as Old Church Slavonic.

The concert is expected to last about one hour.

For further information, please contact Andrew Skitko, choral director

Cell: 610-220-3479; E-mail: andrewskitko@gmail.com

July 30, 2013

Family Services seeks sponsors for 10-mile trail run

Family Services is seeking sponsorship for their upcoming 10 mile trail run!

Family Services has been selected to be the benefiting charity of the Annual Evansburg Challenge 10-mile trail run, to be held this year on Sunday, October 20th. This 10-mile trail run through beautiful Evansburg State Park near Collegeville is one of the most popular trail runs in eastern Pennsylvania, attracting more than 200 participants each year. See sponsorship info here: Evansburg Challenge Sponsorship Levels 2013

Now in its 16^th year, the Challenge is managed and planned by Pretzel City Sports. The race course follows 10 miles of single and double track horse trails by the Skippack Creek with water crossings, ditches and puddles, and a steep muddy climb. Pine groves, berry patches, and mud-gullies dot the trail. The 16^th Annual Evansburg Challenge will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2013.

Family Services of Montgomery County PA (FSMC) is a 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit multi-service agency with three branches located throughout Montgomery County. The vision of Family Services is strong, caring community of individuals and families meeting the challenges and opportunities of life with the mission of being committed to improving the lives of people in Montgomery County, Pa. The agency has three overarching goals: 1) People have improved life prospects, 2) Families function adaptively, 3) Clients reduce risks to achieving and maintaining self-sufficiency.

Please contact Tricia Reedy Jones at treedyjones@fsmontco.org or (610) 630-0201 to discuss your sponsorship level. Thank you!

All donations are 100% tax deductible. Please send donations to 3125 Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19403 no later than September 1, 2013. Please call (610) 630-0201.

Thank you for your contribution!

Tricia Reedy Jones, MPA
Program Director
Foster Grandparent Program
Program of Family Services of Montgomery County
3125 Ridge Pike
Eagleville, PA 19403
(610) 630-0201
Foster Grandparents – “Where Love Grows”

July 12, 2013

SRHA to screen documentary about light pollution & loss of night sky

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is hosting a screening of The City Dark, a one-hour feature documentary about the loss of night. Held in partnership with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, the film will be shown at 7 p.m. on July 23 at Montgomery County Community College West Campus Community Room in South Hall.

The program will feature a brief introduction by Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Superintendent Edie Shean Hammond will discuss the ongoing effort to have Hopewell become a Dark Sky Park. Following the film, Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council President Stan Stubbe will speak and answer questions. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, The City Dark is the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars.

The film is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Learn more.

July 12, 2013

The Mercury lists area fireworks displays

Pottstown’s parade is getting underway now!

Check out The Mercury’s listing of area fireworks and Independence Day festivities:

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130704/NEWS01/130709893/want-to-see-fireworks-local-displays-celebrate-independence-day

Be safe and have a Happy 4th!

July 4, 2013

Summer Fun at Steel River! Free Building Tours and Q&A for Prospective Summer Campers

Brought to you by Steel River Playhouse in the heart of downtown Pottstown!

Are your kids scrambling for AFFORDABLE summer fun? Steel River Playhouse still has some limited space available for summer camp for all grades, but especially for students in Grades 1 through 4. And now’s your chance to see what it’s REALLY like “behind-the-scenes.” Prospective campers and their families can sign up for free tours and Q&A sessions with the education department, starting THIS WEEK on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays.

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary of providing quality, affordable performing arts summer camp for students in Grades 1 through 12, Steel River’s professionally-trained artists work with the campers to develop skills in voice, acting, comedy improv, and movement in a collaborative, noncompetitive setting.

Prospective campers and their families are invited to tour Steel River and participate in a Q&A session by appointment. Tour and meeting hours are Fridays (3:00 – 6:00 pm), Saturdays (12 noon – 3:00 pm), and Mondays (6:00 – 8:00 pm). Please call Steel River at 610.970.1199 or email rebecca@steelriver.org to schedule your visit.

For summer, campers can choose 2, 4 or 6 weeks of camp (in any combination) running July 8^th through 19^th, July 22^nd through August 2^nd, and August 5^th through 16^th. Camp fees run approximately $5 per hour. Younger campers in Grades 1 through 4 can choose morning, afternoon, or full-day camp ($209 per 2-week session for ½ day; $429 for full day). Camp for those in Grades 5 through 12 is Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm ($419 per 2-week session). Current students can refer a friend and receive a $10 gift certificate!

As a nonprofit performing arts center, Steel River Playhouse maintains low tuition rates (averaging $5 per hour), so that camp is accessible to as many students as possible. Financial aid is also available for those who qualify.

More information is available at www.steelriver.org, or by contacting Rebecca Shoemaker, Operations Manager, at rebecca@steelriver.org or 610.970.1199. Steel River Playhouse is located at 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464.

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.

June 27, 2013

Legendary Locals of Pottstown available for pre-order!

I am so excited to announce that the Legendary Locals of Pottstown is now available for pre-orders at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Arcadia Books. It will be released Oct. 14, 2013.

Arcadia Publishing, the largest publisher of local history books in the country was great to work with. They came across this blog about a year ago and asked if I’d be interested in profiling “legendary locals,” broadly defined, and things just took off from there.

This was an incredibly cool project. The photographer, Ed Berger, and I met so many amazing Pottstown people, who I can’t thank enough for taking the time to share their stories. This is my first book, so I have to keep pinching myself to make sure this is really happening.

I will keep you updated as book signings/events are held this fall so that the community can hear some of the stories of the people in the book and to get the book into your hands.

June 10, 2013

Pottstown Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 am; service to follow

Pottstown’s annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 am tomorrow, May 27th. Following the parade, a Memorial Service will be held on the island in Memorial Park near the intersection of Manatawny and Third Streets.

The parade starts at 10 am in front of Goodwill Fire Company on High Street, near the intersection with Bailey Street, goes to Manatawny Street, turns right, crosses over King Street and into the park. It lasts about 45 minutes – 1 hour. If the parade is cancelled because of rain, the service will be held at Goodwill Fire Company.

Beginning around 6 am, KYW 1060 AM will announce if the parade will be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Please come out and remember those who have served our country – that’s what this holiday is all about!

May 26, 2013

Support local Vietnam Veterans Chapter 565: Eat at Wendy’s today from 5-8 pm

Our local Vietnam veterans take care of the memorial in Memorial Park; they participate in Memorial Day programs at local schools; they annually replace the flags at veterans’ plots in area cemeteries; they properly retire used flags; and they are instrumental in Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades.

Please consider supporting these efforts!

And mark your calendars for Sept. 20, 2013 when the exhibit When We Were Soldiers will open at ArtFusion 19464 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. ArtFusion is looking for Vietnam veterans to participate in numerous ways. Sponsorships are also still available. Call ArtFusion at 610-326-2506.