Category: Wellness

Composting workshop to be held at MOSAIC Community Garden

Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 14th @ 423 Chestnut Street, Pottstown, 9am – 11am  

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

The Wonderful World of Worm Composting…

Our first presenter, Laura Washington, is going to talk about how to turn kitchen scraps, junk mail, cardboard and even dryer lint into rich, dark nutrient soil for your garden – otherwise known as vermicompost!  Learn the in’s and out’s, do’s and don’ts, and the many benefits of using this innovative “recycling system”!

Laura is a member of the Mosaic Community Garden and she is a Homestead Herbalism and Lifestyle/Weight Management Specialist.

Our second presenter, Scott Winter, is a BIG compost enthusiast and interesting experiences.  Scott’s going to talk about how to make a home composter out of things everyone will have lying around the house.  

Here’s a tantalizing tidbit about Scott’s background:

Growing up in rural Oregon, we had a compost pile for as long as I can remember and taking out the compost was one of the less popular chores in the house when my sister and I were kids.  After we grew up and moved away, I didn’t think much more of composting until I went to work for Sunriver Utilities LLC in central Oregon at the age of 28.  It was there that I had the pleasure of working on a pilot composting project with multiple benefits to the community that was paid for through a grant from the 2000 National Fire Plan.  The goal was to helps prevent forest fires through ladder fuel reduction, improve air quality, enhance the areas poor soil quality, reduce materials going to landfills and reduce the cost of disposal for yard waste and bio-solids from the waste water treatment plant.  Within a year we were operating year round producing class A compost in the heart of the Deschutes National Forest.  It has been eleven years since we cleared the land and filled our first bag of compost and I still miss being there, but life sometimes takes you where you least expect it to.  So when life hands you lemons, you turn them into compost, right?  One great thing about living in Pennsylvania is that the climate is good for gardening compared to what I was used to in Central Oregon.  Now I compost mostly just to support my other hobbies, but composting has become one of my hobbies in the process.  Making compost is easy, but I believe making good compost is a craft that comes in many forms.  

We’ll have cold drinks and light snacks on hand – Hope to see you there!!

 

 

 

Pottstown Parade set for tomorrow at 10 am; ride your bike in it!

 Pottstown’s 4th of July Homecoming Celebration is described here. The Festivities Schedule is here. There’s plenty to do all day and night downtown and at Memorial Park, capped off by the region’s biggest fireworks. Pottstown’s Independence Day parade is a true home town tradition, and the experience of being in the parade, seeing friends and families three-deep along the parade route, is an incredible experience. Thank you to Tom Carroll for info on how you can be in the parade!!

You are invited!

Bring your bicycle, skate board, roller skates or scooter to the Dana Parking lot, Keim St and Center Ave. on July 4th by 9:45a.m. and support Bike Pottstown. Roll in the parade and be part of the fun! If you need a bicycle for the event, stop at TriCounty Bicycles, 256 High St and see John for a nifty, yellow Bike Pottstown beach cruiser.

The event is FREE and fun will be had by all – guaranteed!

One more note…

To do your part and help cover the cost of the fireworks, which are enjoyed by thousands from around the region, please consider making a donation to:

Make your check payable to Independence Day, Ltd., and send to:

MaryAnn Peters

Pottstown School District

230 Beech St.

Pottstown, PA 19464

 

Trinity Reformed UCC to hold “Playground Day” this Saturday!

Parents: Do you want your kids to learn the wonderful, simple games of your own childhood so they can keep themselves entertained outside this summer?

Pastor Lisa Martin of Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ reports that they will be holding their second “Playground Day” this Saturday, June 30 from 1-3 pm. Kids can learn how to play marbles, jacks, hopscotch, jump rope and other simple, fun outdoor games. And they will be giving away the equipment at the end!

If any Positively!Pottstown readers would like to drop off some sidewalk chalk at the church, that was a hot item last weekend! 

Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ is at 60 N. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Phone: 610-326-2243 Email: church@trinityuccpottstown.org

Trinity Reformed UCC announces FREE summer programming

This info comes from Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ. I’m sorry I did not get up an announcement about their Playground Day that they held on June 23rd. They were teaching kids “old-fashioned outdoor games like marbles, jacks, double-dutch jump rope, hula hoop, and a variety of versions of hopscotch.” Then they gave all the equipment away. Does anyone else want to sponsor something like this? I think it sounds quite fun — even for the grownups! I’d be willing to pitch in, too.

Okay, so here’s what’s still on tap…

ACT — Arts and Crafts at Trinity
We are sharing the hobbies we love with anyone who wants to learn! We meet from 2-4:30 pm on Tuesdays all summer. Activities will include watercolors, crocheting, collage, and “Christmas in July” handcrafts. We are supplying all materials so there is no cost. This is for adults and children ten and up. Our weekly free community meal follows at 5 pm. Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464, 610-326-2243, church@trinityuccpottstown.org

Youth Mission Week
Youth from five area churches will be coming together July 29 through August 3 to participate in Youth Mission Week. Youth live at the church during the week and help with simple repairs, landscaping and clean-up for low-income or elderly Pottstown residents, and also at local non-profit agencies. There are still spaces available for youth who want to participate and homeowners or non-profits that would like some help. We can also use adult volunteers (subject to our safe-church policy.) All forms and more information can be found at http://pottstownyouthgroup.weebly.com/. Youth must be entering 6th grade in the fall. There is no cost for the program, but donations are very welcome.
Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464, 610-326-2243, church@trinityuccpottstown.org

Hill School students collect 4,750 pounds of clothing, books, & room accessories for area non-profits

Hill School students held an end-of-the year collection of items that were no longer needed by students or were too heavy to take home on a plane. At the final tally, an enthusiastic group of 48 students, along with 11 faculty and staff members and parents, collected, sorted, and packed 4,750 pounds of clothing, books, and room accessories that were donated to The Pottstown Cluster, the Montgomery County SPCA, and Goodwill Industries.

Not only did these items not end up in a landfill, but they can be put to good use by those in need, including our furry friends at the SPCA!

You can read the full story at The Hill’s website. Click here to see the full list of items and recipients.

Free plants at MOSAIC Community Garden tonight & tomorrow morning!

Calling all area gardeners!

The 8th grade students at St. Aloysius School started a bunch of plants from seedlings this past spring with help from Strogus Flower Shop and funding from the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. They gave the starter plants to their parents and parishioners, but they had many more left over.

Anna Brendle from the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation suggested they get in touch with us. So… there are a bunch of good-looking plants at the rear of the garden now. The MOSAIC Community Garden is at 423 Chestnut Street, Pottstown, PA 19464. I’ll be there from 6-7:30 pm tonight and from 8-9:30 tomorrow morning if you want to stop by and pick some up. They’re FREE! There are mostly squash and zucchini, but also some spinach, peppers, and tomatoes.

After tomorrow morning, I’ll set the remainders on the rear curb of the garden, in the alley. Spread the word!

FREE Dress for Success event tomorrow

This just in…

FREE Dress for Success Event

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

10am – 1pm

Salvation Army of Greater Pottstown

137 King Street

Pottstown, PA 19464

Registration Required! Call for your appointment NOW!

Call TCN to register for a Free Appointment at 610-705-3301

Choose from our 100s of outfits to find the ensemble that helps you stand above the rest!

 Register for our free event and have help picking your best interview outfit, accessories and shoes.   (Sizes are limited.)

SPONSORED BY THE TCN Homeless Services Program, Soroptimists Program, The Nottage Project, In Ian’s Boots, The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, and The Salvation Army.

TriCounty Community Network

Partnering to improve health, social and environmental conditions

 

 

Girl Talk Series continues at YWCA with panel on non-traditional careers

The YWCA – Tri-County Area has been presenting the Girl Talk Series of programs during their Year of the Young Woman, and the series continues this Saturday with a talk on Non-Traditional Careers.

Entitled Who Said “It’s A Man’s World?”, the program will take place Saturday, May 19 from 10 am – 2 pm at the YWCA at 315 King Street, Pottstown. This discussion will explore non-traditional careers for women, consider where women should start to pursue a non-traditional career, and will provide examples.

Guests can park in the Evans Street lot located on King Street across from the YW. (Use the PERMIT spaces ONLY.) The program is free with reservation for women and girls age 8 and up. Just call the YW now to reserve a spot for you and your daughter: 610.323.1888.

Future events in the Girl Talk Series include:

July 28, 2012: Cyber Bullying and Stalking
September 22, 2012: Advocacy
November 10, 2012: Go Green!

For information about events, please contact the YWCA at 610-323-1888.

4th annual Coventry Woods Festival to be held this Sunday, May 20

The Fourth annual Coventry Woods Festival will be held on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 1 to 5 pm at the Fernbrook Entrance to the Coventry Woods, intersection of St. Peters Road and Fernbrook Lane in North Coventry. The festivities are sponsored by the Township Parks and Recreation Commission and will be held rain or shine. 

This annual event celebrates healthy lands and healthy communities, and will feature music, food, goat races, community displays, and a full slate of other activities.

Bring family and friends to experience the former Camp Fernbrook which, through the hard work of North Coventry’s Open Space Committee, has added such a wonderful gateway to the over 600 acres of the Coventry Preserve. The event is truly a family affair with food, music, games, and goat races for the children. Please join in for a ceremony at 2:30 pm.

 

 

To Win, We Have to Lose: The Weight of a Nation Premieres May 14 and 15

Editor’s note: This timely information about an HBO series that begins tonight comes to us from the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation.

With recent statistics suggesting that 42% of the United States population will be defined as obese by 2030, The Weight of a Nation, could not come at a more opportune time to shine the light on a national epidemic. The four-part documentary series was developed by HBO in conjunction with several of the nation’s leading research and health care organizations. Three years in the making, the documentary spotlights the facts and myths of this urgent public health issue, showing how obesity affects the health of the nation and the health care system. The series also highlights how individuals, workplaces, and communities are making positive changes.

The documentary airs on HBO on May 14 (Part 1 and 2) and May 15 (Part 3 and 4). Additionally, content will be available free on multiple digital platforms including YouTube and HBO.com. The full series will also be available from the Pottstown Foundation for organizations interested in hosting future screenings.

“Educating ourselves is the first step in getting our community to a healthier weight,” said Dave Kraybill, Executive Director of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. “Helping our children make good food choices at home and creating neighborhoods and schools that enable them to eat well and be active are critical to helping the next generation live healthier, happier lives.”

The Foundation also celebrates the ongoing efforts of several grantees who are dedicated to aiding the community in pursuing healthier lifestyles and combating obesity:

Boyertown Area School District’s Brain Body Connection project is an effort to measure the connection between student’s health, physical activity and academic performance. For instance, science teachers collaborate with physical education teachers on days when tests are to be given – ensuring that students receive a stimulating dose of activity before heading into the classroom to take their test. The District’s vision is to expand the focus on physical activity beyond the gymnasium, making it more of an integral and beneficial part of their students’.

Get Moving at the Freedom Valley YMCA is an exercise and health education program meant to motivate individuals to pursue healthy lifestyles. The impetus for the program came during a Relay for Life event. One team noticed others struggling to walk around the track and approached the YMCA with an idea based on community members supporting each other toward common healthy goals. The program began in January and runs through June 2012. Their goal is to see seventy-five percent of participants increase their walking/running time and distance.

Pottstown School District’s Healthy Me initiative promotes healthy living through its after school programs that focus on nutrition, diet, food preparation, exercise activities and stress reduction. The program aims to decrease the proportion of obesity in both the middle school and high school levels. It is open to all students, staff and local community at no charge.

About the Foundation
The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles. Visit http://www.pottstownfoundation.org for more information about the Foundation. Discover Pottstown area’s online community at http://www.missionhealthyliving.org to learn and share great information on how to lead a healthier life – including its series on childhood obesity. You can also follow Mission Healthy Living on Facebook and Twitter.

If your organization is interested in hosting a screening of The Weight of the Nation, please contact Rose Crews at rosecrews@pottstownfoundation.org for more details.

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