Pottstown calendar highlights for the coming week

Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure has opened at Tri-County Peforming Arts Center. I saw the preview performance last night, and it is just spectacular! Children will be enchanted by the flying characters; P.J. Schweizer, who plays Peter Pan, is spot-on and full of mischievous energy througout; and Maddie Aicher, who plays Wendy, has got just the most angelic voice I’ve heard in a long time. The show runs Thursday through Sundays up until June 19. TriPAc is located at 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464. This is a new version of Peter Pan and TriPaC is hosting the U. S. Premier. NY critics will be here to check it out. If it moves to Broadway, you’ll be able to say you saw it first… in Pottstown, PA! There’s be an opening night reception tonight, Friday, June 3rd.  Go to TrIPAC.org to order tickets online. Prices are always discounted for students and seniors.

 Tonight is also the opening of The Pottstown Art Show, presented by the Pottstown Area Artists Guild and The Hill School Center for the Arts. The show will be at the Hill’s Boyer Gallery until June 12. This is PAAG’s first juried show, which will raise funds for scholarships for local students who will pursue the arts in college. The PAAG is in its 51st year. See the Artists Guild website at www. Paag.info for more details.

Get a great deal on used books at the Pottstown Regional Public Library‘s Back Door Book Sale today and tomorrow! The library is at 500 E. High Street; the phone number is (610) 970-6551.

This weekend brings the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life to Pottsgrove High School.  Pottstown’s relay for Life teams raise more money than any other area in Pennsylvania and is one of the top performers in the world, last year raising more than $729,000 to fight cancer. The opening ceremony is at 10 am on Saturday, followed by the Survivor and Caregiver Walk. There are other ceremonies in the evening. See Rosemary Keane’s blog post from earlier today for more details.

For the children of Pottstown, a new and exciting event is being held this Saturday from 12-3 in the new Chestnut Street Park at the corner of Chestnut and Washington Streets. It’s called Science in the Park and it promises fun hands-on activities that will get your kids learning new concepts and maybe even wanting to grow up to be a scientist or engineer!  There will be demonstrations on Kitchen Chemistry, Slime and polymers, rocks and minerals and chemical reactions.  A huge shout-out to Pottstown resident Anna Johnson for bringing this wonderful idea to life! More info can be found at vivapottstown.com.

The professional chamber ensemble CANTATICA will return to Emmanuel Lutheran Church,150 North Hanover Street, Pottstown for the final concert of its 2010-2011 concert season on Sunday, June 5, at 4:00 PM. The program, I Hear America Singing: A Celebration of the American Spirit, will feature solo voices, chamber choir and instruments (clarinet, violin, cello, bass and piano) performing early American hymns, Shaker songs, Afro-American spirituals, Appalachian folk songs and fiddle tunes, contemporary classical settings of Civil War texts, and classic jazz. Admission to I Hear America Singing: A Celebration of the American Spirit is $14 Adults, $12 Seniors, and $6 Students. Tickets may be purchased by email at info@cantatica.org, by telephone at 484-951-5113 and at the door.  

Finally, next Thursday, June 9th Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County is holding a Homeownership Orientation Session from 6:30 PM — 8:30 PM at 450 High Street  in the Sidney Pollack Building across the street from the Pottstown Library. For more info, call Jean Ford, Family Services Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity 610-278-7710.

Pottstown Relay for Life 2011

Well, the whole town is looking purple this weekend and it’s for a great cause.  The Pottstown Relay for Life benefitting the American Cancer Society gets underway in just about 24 hours and continues for another 24 hours-from 10 am Saturday to 10am Sunday. 

This year’s event, held at Pottsgrove High School, has over 2,000 registered participants who are raising money (over $400,00 so far) for the American Cancer Society.  126 teams are signed up and will walk the track continuously from tomorrow morning, into the night and finally ending on Sunday morning. 

The Mercury has posted a great calendar of events going on both on the track and in the tents this weekend, but here are some of the highlights:

  • The opening ceremonies are set to begin at 10am and the hour finishes up with cancer survivors taking the first lap around the track to begin the relay. 
  • The main tent will be the spot for fun activities throughout the day, and there are movies at night for people who are signed up to walk the night shift.  Included in these are Zumba, karate, a cake contest and Yoga with Barbara Kosciewicz from High Street Yoga. 
  • Luminaries will be for sale all day and then lit from 8-9pm to line the track with light. 

Individual teams will be selling food and relay items as well as running games in their tents so there is plenty to do and you don’t have to be signed up on a team to come out and enjoy this inspiring and emotional fundraising event.  If you would like to register to walk, you can check in at the main tent on Saturday.  Only registered walkers and volunteers will be allowed in the track area overnight and kids must be with an adult during that time. 

Relay tent at Paint the Town Purple

Pottstown’s Relay for Life has been the #1 Relay in Pennsylvania for the last 2 years and ranks 5th in the world.  This event is what our community is about-everyone working together for a good cause.  All the small efforts of individuals combine with larger sponsors getting invested in Relay means great results for the American Cancer Society and for Pottstown. 

Check out the new Pottstown Relay Perspective blog for more stories of hope and inspiration and make plans to bring the family over to the high school to help raise money to cure cancer. 

 

Peter Pan previews tonight at TriPAC

PETER PAN FLIES TO POTTSTOWN!

 The U.S. Premiere of a new version of Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure previews tonight, June 2,  at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street, Pottstown.

Sir James Barrie’s timeless tale of the boy who never grew up is reborn as a spectacular musical by Britain’s Drewe & Stiles with favorite friends Tinker Bell, Wendy, John, Michael, the Lost Boys, Tiger Lilly, and of course, Captain Hook and his band of Pirates!  

The cast includes PJ Schweizer, Madison Aicher, Rebecca Shoemaker, Joe Cieresi, AJ Giruzzi, Connor Kirk, Jason Burke, William Bell, Isabella Rota-Talarico, Emma Russek, Sam Pettine, Josiah Swensen, David Helmer, Ben Williams, AJ Sermarini, Charlie Harrison, Ben Fried, Marc Sherfield, Michael Kiesling, Matt Kiesling, Harrison Stengle, Cletus Stell, Maggie Swahl, Sami Kolb, Taylor Helmers, Patrick Shepherd, Carly Fried, Carrie Thorwarth, Karissa Smith, Sara Helmers, Philip Seader, Adele Morello, Jordan Popky, Lynn Cooper, Madison Devlin, and Al Ulozas.

Here’s what others are saying about Peter Pan: “[A] winner for both adults and children…a truly magical world come to life before our eyes.”– Reviews Gate.com. “The tunes escalate the magic…and makes the already brilliant JM Barrie story all the more sublime.”– Yorkshire Evening Post.

Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure runs June 2-19. It’s the U.S. Premiere of the new version from the creative team behind the Broadway blockbuster, Mary Poppins. Tickets are on sale now at www.tripac.org.  Ticket prices for Thursday performances are $13 for children 12 and under, $17 for students and seniors (65+), and $19 for adults.  Ticket prices for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows are $15 for children 12 and under, $21 for students and seniors, and $23 for adults.  Groups of 10 or more receive $2 off per ticket when purchased in a single transaction.  Advance ticket sales have been brisk, so get your tickets now! 

ABOUT VILLAGE PRODUCTIONS

Village Productions (the Tri-County Performing Arts Center) is a dynamic non-profit performing arts organization founded in 2001 to make the arts highly accessible to all in the community. Established and led by dedicated team of performing artists, arts educators, business leaders, and area residents, Village Productions seeks to strengthen community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the presentation of quality performing arts events and educational opportunities geared toward a diverse audience. More information is available at www.tripac.org

Scenes from Kenilworth Park

Positively!Pottstown thanks Jim Lovely of Kenilworth for sending in these photos of wildlife in Kenilworth Park. We featured Kenilworth Park in last fall’s Parks & Recreation series for the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. Rosemary Keane and I are steadily recording the blog series for WPAZ 1370 AM so they can re-broadcast the information whenever they get a chance; keep an ear open for “Paths, Parks & Playgrounds: Your Guide to Outdoor Recreation.”  We appreciate Jim’s contribution to keeping the area’s incredible outdoor resources in the spotlight!

 

Pottstown News from Post papers

Why re-invent the wheel? Below are two links from the Post papers that showed up in my inbox this morning. One article reports on the success of yesterday’s Memorial Day parade, replete with great photos. The second article tells about the extended deadline for registering for summer art classes at The Gallery School in downtown Pottstown. Thanks, Joe Zlomek!

The Sanatoga Post: Sanatogans Honor Their Fallen in Memorial Ceremonies

The Pottstown Post: Time Extended for Pottstown Arts Class Enrollment

Memorial Day observances – Pottstown’s parade is on!

World War II Memorial

Line up for Pottstown’s Memorial Day Parade begins at 9 am at Goodwill Fire Company, 714 E. High Street. the parade is set to start at 10 am and will continue down High Street to Manatawny Street, then head down Manatawny to Second Street and Memorial Park.

A memorial service will also be held at 11 am at Highland Memorial Park, 701 Farmington Ave, featuring music by the Pottstown High School Band and several speakers.

Today is a day for us to reflect on the ideals of democracy and freedom, and publicly acknowledge the sacrifices made by those who serve and have given their lives to protect those ideals.

Pottstown’s Memorial Park gives the community the opportunity to keep those who have served in our hearts every day of the year with its World War II Memorial, All Veterans Walk of Honor, and Blue Star Memorial By-Way, by the Pottstown Garden Club.

All Veterans Walk of Honor Gazebo

Blue Star Memorial By-Way

Zion’s United Church of Christ

Zion’s United Church of Christ has a long history in Pottstown. The “Old Brick Church,”
at the corner of Hanover and Chestnut Streets in one of Pottstown’s two Historic Districts,
was dedicated in 1796.

Zion’s United Church of Christ
100 North Hanover Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 323-3637
Rev. Peter Goguts, Interim Pastor

Electronic music artist at BMX event in Memorial Park tonight

Boston-based, electronic music artist Ali Berger will entertain visitors at the BMX Memorial Classic in Memorial Park tonight, beginning at 6 pm. Full disclosure: This is my kid!

Bring a lawn chair and come hang out near the BMX track, where Gruber Pool used to be. HUGE shout-outs to Cathy & Glen Knapper for organizing the Memorial Classic and for letting Ali play, and to the Pottstown Parks & Rec Department for the sound equipment.

Ali’s Facebook page describes his music as, “sometimes chilled out, sometimes heavy, but always glitchy, electronic, and above all, funky. His live shows incorporate on-the-fly mashups and remixes of his own original tunes, which range from glitch-hop to electrofunk to drum & bass. You can catch him rocking shows around Boston and on Lost in Bass on Glitch.FM every Monday night.”

Some of his tunes can be found at BandCamp.com or at Sound Cloud. Here’s a clip from “Spring Break.” See you in the park!

Pottstown’s Justin Knapper sprints to national BMX title

Did you know that Pottstown is the home of a current national BMX champion?

Meet Justin Knapper, #1 in the nation in the Boys’ 14-year-old Expert class of the National Bicycle League (NBL). Oddly enough, because there are not very many BMX facilities in southeastern PA, Justin is also the 2010 New Jersey State Champion.

Pottstown resident Justin Knapper
In order to compete in the 2010 Grand Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky last September, Justin had to compete in a minimum of six national races and place high enough to earn enough points to even qualify for the title of national champion. That was no problem because over the past two years, he’s gotten to the finals of every event he’s entered. Last year, that amounted to about 15 national events.  So, how does he do it?

“I’ve been racing since I was three years old,” he said, rocking back and forth on his bike at Pottstown’s Trilogy Park. “I bike every day, mainly doing sprints in a parking lot, or going to the gym and lifting weights.”

Justin, who is sponsored by Rennen/Intense, can often be seen working out with his older brother Jeremy, who placed 12th in the nation in the 19-25 Expert class and is also the reigning 2010 New Jersey State Champion in his age bracket.

For those who have never seen a BMX race, eight riders line up in a standing position at the top of a hill. When a green light goes on, a gate drops and the riders take off, sprinting over small hills and around a few curves before crossing the finish line. The whole race is over in about 30 seconds. The qualifying heats in an event are called “motos,” and the top 8 finishers from the motos end up in the main event or final. There are three levels – Rookie, Challenger and Expert. A rider can’t move up to the next level until they have a minimum of 15 first-place finishes in a main event.

Unfortunately, area residents attending this weekend’s Memorial Classic at Memorial Park will not get to see their hometown champion in action. This past March Justin took a spill and broke one of his legs in 5 places. But he’s still in the hunt to defend his title inLouisville on Labor Day weekend. He’s been doing physical therapy three times a week, and hopes to compete again in New Paltz, New York in mid-June. We’ll be rooting for you, Justin!

For this weekend’s schedule, see here.

Check out our other stories about this weekend’s BMX fun and places for visitors to get a bite to eat around town!

Ride the Nation Meets Trilogy Park BMX: The Warrens are here!

TrilogyParkBMX Memorial Classic Visitors: Where to dine in Pottstown

BMX Family Rides the Nation

BMXers: Welcome toPottstown & check out this special offer!

Trilogy Park in Pottstown hosts national BMX event Memorial Day weekend

Ride the Nation meets Trilogy Park BMX-the Warrens are here!

After logging over 1700 miles since April, the Warren family made a grand entrance into Pottstown today.  They stopped at the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center where there was a bit of a media frenzy (at least by small town standards) and I got the chance to meet this amazing family and hear a bit about their adventure so far. 

If biking is contagious, then this family is definitely spreading the bug.  Tammy, mother of the BMX rider and author of the Ride the Nation blog, seems more like the kind of person you would sit and have coffee with than someone who just rode over a thousand miles in a month.  And, I think that’s just one part of the appeal of this family. 

In fact, one of the goals they set for themselves before heading out on this trip was to inspire the occasional biker to ride more often.  They seem to be having so much fun and have so much enthusiasm for the whole endeavor that I am sure they are far exceeding that goal along the way. 

The Warrens led the way, with Borough Manager Jason Bobst, employees from Pottstown Parks and Recreation Department and BMX racers following them to Memorial Park where all the fun will take place this weekend. 

You can follow the family’s progress as they keep riding till Memorial Day on their blog and you can get more information about our hometown BMX track at www.trilogypark.org

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑