Category: Uncategorized

Creative MontCo wants your input!

Are the arts important in your life and the life of your family? Do you spend time and money to learn how to paint or play an instrument or knit a sweater? Do you enjoy going to galleries, performances, or outdoor festivals? Would you like to see a few cafes with open mics in your downtown? Does the perfect nut roll or shoo-fly pie make you want to write poetry? Does a surprising piece of whimsical art in a public place bring a smile to your face?

Car Art!

These are just some of the ways that arts and culture touch our lives, and Montgomery County would like to hear from you about what specific places and activities are important to you in your town and throughout the region. Check out the survey here.Last fall Montgomery County launched a large-scale planning process called Creative MontCo. Their website bills Creative Montco as “a bold partnership of community members and organizations developing a comprehensive cultural and creative economy plan for communities throughout the county. Creative MontCo is dedicated to making Montgomery County a more vibrant place to live, work and play.”

The beautiful thing about the arts – besides just being, well, beautiful – is that arts and culture can be an economic engine for a local economy. All over the country, there are towns, small cities and even neighborhoods within larger cities, that have discovered their identities as centers of art, culture, and history and they have generated jobs and stabilized their tax base by understanding, expanding, and promoting their assets.

The Creative MontCo Steering Committee is being led by Montgomery County Community College president Dr. Karen Stout. The County has hired some really knowledgeable planners – The Cultural Planning Group – who understand how arts and culture can be good for residents and visitors alike and can stimulate economic growth.  They have have been surveying and meeting with artists, organizations, and groups ever since to find out what residents like, what they want more of, and what they envision for their towns in the way of arts, and culture, which I take to include historic and heritage resources as well as the natural environment (i.e., parks). 

To me, the term “culture” gets at the history of a place and how that is reflected today in the people that live there, the work they do, the traditions that live on, and the natural and built environments that are tied to all of that. For me, “the arts” includes any creative endeavor, including, say, beautiful cupcakes or the really old mosaic tiles in many of the entryways of the stores in downtown Pottstown.

So… what arts and cultural activities and events are important to you? Please take a few moments NOW to respond to their survey here.  And feel free to spend some time at Creative MontCo’s website, reading what others have to say and sharing your vision for the creative future of your county. 

 

 

Relay for Life and Bark for Life events on tap for spring

Grace Lutheran Church in Pottstown is having a spring craft show to benefit their Relay for Life team. Here are the details:

 
Craft Show & Bake Sale
Saturday, March 24, 2012
from 9am – 2pm at
Grace Lutheran Church
660 N. Charlotte Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
*Bake sale and food proceeds to benefit Relay for Life*
 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tara by email (tdonohie@yahoo.com) or by phone at 610-326-2682.

I know I don’t usually post events from outside of Pottstown, but at least in this case, I’m making an exception for the Relay and American Cancer Society events.

Kristin Quigley, Publicity Co-Chair Relay For Life of Boyertown (610-845-7575) sends along news of these upcoming events:

Dining for a Cure: Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 4:30-8pm at the Pit Stop, 961 North Reading Ave, Boyertown, PA 19512

10% of the evenings sales will go towards the Relay For Life of Boyertown. When you, your friends, neighbors, etc., enter the restaurant, mention your team or your favorite team’s name and a portion of the donations will be credited to that team.  Chances will be sold to win a Longaberger basket.  There will also be 50/50 drawings throughout the evening.

All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast: Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 7-11am at the Main Street Pub, 505 Main Street, Bally, PA 19503

Come enjoy our All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet including Pancakes (Tradition, Banana, Chocolate Chip), Gluten-free Pancakes, Sausage Patties, Scrapple, Grilled Sticky Buns, Juices, Milks, Coffee, Tea and Hot Chocolate.

Cost – $8.00 adults, Children under 12 and Cancer Survivors $5.00, under 5 FREE.

 

American Cancer Society Bark for Life

Bunny Trails & Puppy Tails is back!!

Calling All Canines! Hop over to Coventry Animal Hospital

Saturday, March 24th from 1-4pm

Dog photos with the Easter Bunny!

 $10 ACS Donation; Two or More Dogs in the Same Photo- $15

We are gearing up for Super Bark Weekend. Please join us on April 14th as we gather at Limerick Community Park for Pottstown’s 6th annual American Cancer Society BARK FOR LIFE. Registration for this event begins at 8:30am. Opening Ceremonies will be at 10:00am, followed by a 1 mile walk. Plan to stay after the walk for lots of fun and activities- games and contests for dogs, games for children, food, family pictures, caricatures, canine massages and so much more!

We are collecting items- food, treats, towels, blankets & other necessities- for local rescues & shelters in attendance on April 14th! Please bring an item to fill our doghouse! Let’s help our fellow canines!

Super Bark Weekend continues on Sunday, April 15th. Schutzhund Olympics will be held at Pet Food Direct in Harleysville from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Please come to the Upper Bucks Schutzhund Club’s 3rd Annual Schutzhund Olympics. Your dog does not have to be an experienced Schutzhund dog to attend this fun event, so come on out to compete or come watch some high level dogs compete. Contact Cheryl J. Moriarity- Cherylshepherds@comcast.net for more information or to request an entry form

For more information on ACS Bark For Life: contact Sue or Angie www.relayforlife.org/barkpapottstown

http://barkf.blogspot.com

484-366-1735

  Sue & Charlie (woof!) Dudek

        suedudek@verizon.net  or  610-608-6240
                               Bark For Life 

                      www.relayforlife.org/barkpapottstown
The ACS is the Official Sponsor of Birthdays!

Join us for the 2012 Bark For Life…each Pup gets us closer to a world with MORE BIRTHDAYS!

 

Computer glitches and catching up

It’s been kinda hard to blog lately. My laptop is in the shop for an overhaul after a virus put some major systems in a closed and impenetrable loop. (I’m typing this on a netbook, squinting at the screen, trying to keep my fingers from tripping over each other.) The good news is that it’s on the mend and I should be re-united with it before the end of the day.

On top of that, though, I’ve been inundated with requests to post the news of community groups, local businesses, churches, nonprofits, and arts organizations. There is so much good news and fun stuff to do around here that I am actually being overwhelmed by it; I’m just one person doing this in my “spare” time, while juggling several other activities and life itself. Of course, all the good news is not a bad thing! Except that it is frustrating not getting the info out in a timely way. This morning I sent out a post about a Motown Review on March 24th and then was notified by a reader that it had been cancelled. I don’t ever want to create confusion for the readers of Positively Pottstown!

I will now try to pull a “Roy”* and get a lot of info out in the next hour or so. I may never be  truly “caught up,” but I’m going to give it a try! Thanks for hanging in there.

* This is my shout-out to Roy Keeler of Roy’s Rants and Progress Pennsylvania. He often sends out his blog posts in a flurry; he just keeps pumping the information out there.

Area food drive picking up speed

The “Fill the Media Lab” food pantry drive being conducted by The Mercury, The Sanatoga Post, other Post newspapers, and area bloggers who are part of The Mercury’s Town Square, is kicking into high gear. New businesses keep coming forward to offer their location as a drop-off point for donations of food and laundry detergent.

Residential and commercial real estate attorney Andrew Monastra has joined the local fight against hunger by offering his office at 740 E. High Street in Pottstown as a drop-off location between the hours of 8:30 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Food collected there, as well as at Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches (in the Farmers’ Market), is going to the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. During the first week of the food drive, Grumpy’s collected 117 food items and 15 bottles of laundry detergent.* Grumpy’s is also making a matching donation for everything they collect.

Andrew Monastra’s office is down near the post office in Pottstown; it’s that beautiful Grand Review Building. Andrew is always finding a new way to support the efforts of area non-profits. His Heartland Abstract title company makes a donation from each real estate transaction to either MOSAIC Community Land Trust, The Gallery School of Pottstown, or The Carousel. Please consider contacting Andrew Monastra for your next real estate transaction!

In other “Fill the Media Lab” news, The Sanatoga Post reported today that Zuber Realty (2117 E. High Street) has become the latest donation drop-off spot in Lower Pottsgrove Township, joining Pottsgrove High School (1345 Kauffman Rd.) and Chesmont Storage (1500 Industrial Hwy.)

* I’ve got a photo of the food collected, but I’m having “technical difficulties” with my camera. 😦 Will post photos as soon as I can!

Heartland Abstract makes donations to local nonprofits for every real estate closing

Heartland Abstract, Inc., a local title company, makes a donation to either The Gallery School of Pottstown or MOSAIC Community Land Trust for every real estate closing held. Engaging Heartland Abstract for your next real estate transaction will not only get you peace of mind but also a warm feeling in your heart, knowing that a donation will be made to these Pottstown-based nonprofits.

Andrew Monastra, Esq. is one of the principals of Heartland Abstract. His office is located in the lovely Grand Review Building at 740 E. High Street. Andrew has been very supportive of both these nonprofits in other ways, especially in offering legal counsel to MOSAIC CLT to secure the property at 423 Chestnut Street for Pottstown’s first community garden. You can contact Andrew at 610-326-6300 for details.

Heartland Abstract
740 E. High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
Phone Number:  (610) 326-6300
Fax Number:      (610) 326-8600
Email Address:    monastrapc@aol.com

website: http://www.monastralaw.com/public/heartland_abstract.asp

If you’re not sure what an abstract/title company does, here’s some info directly from their website:

What we can do for you…

Buying or selling a property is the largest monetary transaction most of us experience in our personal lives.  Buying or selling a property usually involves the transfer of a large sum of money.  As a buyer or seller, you want to make sure that all the conditions of the sale have been met before property and money exchange hands.  Through the years, custom has dictated that money and all related documents be transferred through a neutral third party.  Heartland Abstract, Inc. issues title policies and offers complete escrow closing services including residential, commercial and industrial in the metro Philadelphia area.

Our Services…
•  Title Insurance
•  Escrow Service
•  Title Search and Abstract
•  Ownership and Encumbrance Searches
•  Preparation of Documents:  Subordination, Affidavits, Satisfactions
•  Witness-only Closings
•  Obtaining Hazard and Mortgage Changes
•  Appraisal Referrals
•  Information on Real Estate Taxes and Homestead Exemption
•  Recommendations to Realtors and their Services
•  Assistance with Mortgage Financing and Equity Lines
•  Resolving Legal Title Issues

February Happy Hour at The Elks!

Join us for February fun at the historic Elks Lodge.

Meet new people and find out what’s going on around town!

Friday, February 10th

5-7 pm

The Elks are supplying the munchies, wine, and beer on tap for the same low $5!! Mixed drinks available at cash bar.
Everyone’s invited to stay beyond the Happy Hour to hang out and dance to a d.j. Cash bar only after 7 pm.
RSVP now to positivelypottstown@gmail.com.
Hope to see you there!

Great Clips holding fundraiser

The owners of Great Clips of Pottstown (across from Wal-Mart) are holding a Cuts for Cancer Cut-a-thon on Sunday, February 5th from 10 am – 4 pm to raise funds for Victoria, a 5-year-old with a brain tumor.

Great Clips is located at:

 223 Shoemaker Road, # 112
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-340-2756

See the Cuts.for.Cancer.Flyer for more information on how to help Victoria and her family meet medical expenses.

You can also learn more by visiting the website Victory4Victoria.org.

Family Services Needs Volunteers for Income Tax Program

Editor’s note: If you can commit to one 4-hour shift/week during the upcoming tax season, please see below on how you can help low-middle income folks prepare their tax returns. Training is included.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a free tax assistance preparation service provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through Family Services, is seeking volunteers. 

Through the VITA program, trained volunteers assist low-to-middle income individuals and families in the preparation and electronic filing of simple income tax forms.

“There are many ways you can help at VITA tax preparation sites,” said Kathy Cael, Family Services’ VITA site coordinator. “Volunteers can complete and file tax forms, greet clients, organize paperwork, and assist with other administrative tasks.”

Volunteer tax preparers will receive free instruction and training to become Certified IRS Tax Preparers. Volunteer greeters will welcome clients and assist the VITA site coordinator with administrative tasks. Greeters should be friendly and customer service-oriented.

No experience is necessary. All VITA volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, computer literate, and able to commit to one four-hour volunteer shift per week for the 13-week tax season. Early afternoon, evening and weekend volunteer shifts are available at two VITA sites in the greater Pottstown area.

For more information on volunteering with VITA, please contact Kathy Cael at 610-326-1610 ext. 222 or kcael@fsmontco.org.

Since 1900, Family Services has been caring for children, seniors and families in Montgomery County who face everyday emotional difficulties or physical hardships. The agency’s innovative social service programs make a positive difference in the lives of 16,000 Montgomery County residents each year. For more information, call Family Services’ Pottstown Office at 610-326-1610 or visit www.fsmontco.org.

Free Christmas trees at Calvary Christian this afternoon only

If you or someone you know is struggling in this economy, get the word out now: Calvary Christian Center will be giving away 250 fresh cut evergreens — all sizes — starting at 3 p.m. today until they are gone. There will also be goody stockings for the kids and hot refreshments for all. Everything on a first come, first served basis. Calvary is at 426 Laurelwood Road, next to the Coventry Mall in North Coventry, Chester County. For more info, call (610) 323-0480.

Cantatica presents “An American Thanksgiving” at Emmanuel Lutheran

This Tuesday, November 22nd at 7:30 pm, the professional chamber ensemble and artist-in-residence Cantatica will present music of gratitude, remembrance and rejoicing at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. Please note that the Coventry Singers will also be guest artists.

The concert will include Let Us Break Bread Together, Simple Gifts, Zion’s Walls, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, How Can I Keep From Singing, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Dixie, and Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier.

Emmanuel Lutheran offers a free Music at Emmanuel series throughout the year. Check out their Facebook page here. Their next concert features the Reading Choral Society in “A Celebration of Light” on Sunday, December 11.

Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
150 N. Hanover Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-323-4312

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