Tag: Arts

Writing camp

Well, tomorrow I leave for 10 days in Vermont, where I’ll be attending lectures, readings and writing workshops pretty much from 8 am – 9 pm every day. All books, all writing, all words, all the time. About a month ago, I was in town at a meeting, and I described this low-residency master’s degree program (I do this 10-day gig twice a year; this time next year I’ll be giving a lecture & a reading and will get my degree.) Someone at the meeting – I won’t name names! – looked pretty horrified to hear that I think this is just about the best way anyone could ever spend 10 days 🙂

But will I really be leaving Pottstown behind? Impossible! I’ll be checking email and even posting here from time to time. The truly awesome news, though, is that Rosemary Keane, who took us on a whirlwind tour of some parks in Amity, Douglass, New Hanover and Boyertown last summer, will be filling in as a guest blogger. I know you’re in really good hands; she has some excellent posts lined up. The first story, which will be posted first thing tomorrow morning, is about a group of Pottstown chicks who really know how to roll! Thank you, Rosemary, and welcome back!

Merry Christmas!

Here’s a humorous take – “A Simpson’s Christmas” – courtesy of the Pottstown Influential Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) program and The Gallery School.


 

On a more serious note,

I wish all of you and your loved ones

the joy, warmth, love and hope that this day brings.

PEACE.

Last minute shopping on High Street

Last week I made a mad dash to The Gallery to do some holiday shopping and was once again astonished at the totally cool, handmade jewelry and fused glass that they offer at really reasonable prices. They had these cute magnets – perfect stocking stuffers – for just $5!

I got a couple of glass items and a pair of earrings with prices ranging from $15-$30. They were also offering some Christmas-themed glass (shown below) in the same price range.
 

This week you might get an even better deal. Today through Friday, 12/24 the Gallery is offering 25-40% off a wide selection of items. No coupons needed, just stop and shop. They have gift certificates valid for any item or for one of their many classes, so you can give the gift of art this Christmas!


The Gallery‘s hours are: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-4:30pm and Friday 10am-2pm. They are closed 12/25. They are located at 254 High Street. Phone number is 610-326-2506.

And if you need to add that special, finishing touch to your Christmas table or are looking for a lovely plant as a hostess gift, stop by the Pottstown Florist at 300 E. High Street in the Farmers’ Market building at High and Charlotte Streets. Or check out their website – www.pottstownflorist.com – and give a call to place your order (610- 323-0101).

Joint School Board & Borough Council Meeting this Monday

This Monday, Dec. 20th, there will be a joint School Board & Borough Council Meeting at 7:30pm at the Pottstown Middle School in the 2nd floor LGI room.

The agenda will include an update to the community on the PAID partnership, a presentation about a Community Land Trust for Pottstown, and tax assessments. I will be part of the group that is doing the Community Land Trust presentation.

A community land trust (CLT) is a nonprofit model that offers flexibility for engaging in housing, neighborhood stabilization and economic development activities that are appropriate for a particular area. A few notable features of CLTs are:

  • setting & implementing goals with community input
  • having CLT homeowners & other community reps. on its board
  • undertaking an active acquisition program
  • selling buildings at affordable prices while the CLT retains ownership of the land beneath the buildings
  • being stewards of the land and neighborhoods
  • increasing homeownership
  • preventing foreclosures

While most CLTs have as their main goal the creation of permanently affordable, owner-occupied housing in places where housing prices are high or escalating, a CLT for Pottstown would undertake a broader range of activities such as community gardens and economic development initiatives to help bring back market-rate activity.

With input from the community,  a CLT for Pottstown would undertake activities in a targeted way to slow the negative fiscal spiral and coax the market back. Many aspects of this approach have been recommended in study after study.

I’m certainly looking forward to carrying on this conversation & to hear questions and observations from the larger community about how this could work. Hope you can make it Monday night!

Added after original post:

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.

 

High Street or bust!

I’m hitting the road now to head to Pottstown, where I will do some window-gazing and actual shopping. 🙂

Thanks for all the replies regarding the Happy Hour. We’ve got at least 28 revelers, who will be hanging at The Brickhouse tonight from 5-7 pm. If you’re inclined to get out of the cold before heading home, no need to RSVP at this point, just show up!

For the many folks who can’t make it, I look forward to seeing you at the next event: Friday, January 28th, location TBD. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays, be safe, and I hope 2011 is good to you and your loved ones!

Hometown Holidays draw crowds

Last Friday night, there was so much going on downtown that there was no way I could take it all in. Fortunately the action continues this coming Friday, Dec. 10 and the following Friday, Dec. 17. Here’s what I did do…

Remembering Rev. H. L. Butler
I actually kicked off my Hometown Holiday Celebration by dropping in on the tail end of the Pottstown Firebirds luncheon at Brookside Country Club. The reminiscences were in full swing. I just love hearing stories about antics from days-gone-by and this crew had plenty of them. Later, there was more schmoozing with the team at The Gallery’s Open House. You might want to consider purchasing a poster, “Hometown Heroes,” which honors that championship team and was painted by local artist, Mary Ellen Christ. The Gallery also has a wealth of unique gift items in every price range. Last year I got my mom a stained glass cross that hangs in her kitchen window, catching the morning light. It’s something to reflect on every single day. I’ll be back in town this week to do some shopping & I can’t wait; you never know what you’ll find!

Pine Forge Academy Choir
After I left The Gallery, I heard the Pine Forge Academy Choir down at Smith Plaza and caught up with some folks – there was a very nice crowd there all night long. But before too long, my toes were going numb. No matter – I just hopped across the street to Churchill’s and got a melted cheese and tomato pannini. That hit the spot. Churchill’s is so beautifully decorated, and there was a steady crowd as people purchased tickets for the horse-drawn carriage rides. There was a line all night, so get there early this Friday, Dec. 10th so you don’t miss the chance for a charming ride down High Street.

Churchill's on Friday night
After that, I dashed up to St. Al’s, looking for my mom, and caught some of the Charlie Brown performance happening in Begly Hall. But, alas, no sign of my mom. I failed her again! (Like my father, I talk too much and then I don’t show up where I’m supposed to be at the right time.)

There are so many more things I need to do in the coming weeks… look at all the decorated storefronts and vote online at The Mercury, see A Christmas Carol at Tri-PAC – it is getting rave reviews! – take a carriage ride… and maybe sit on Santa’s lap. I’ve got some pretty big wishes for Pottstown for the coming year… maybe he can help. 🙂

Playing catch-up…

1. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer. Put my last packet of writing for this term into the mail about an hour ago. Brain = fried.

2. The previously mentioned Holiday Hop must, unfortunately, be canceled. Wait. It’s actually it’s not that unfortunate because I will still be there! And I will still be hopping from one place to another and “laughing all the way,” as the song goes. But I didn’t have time to properly advertise it and get all the hoo-ha and goodies organized, and the few people I heard from who were interested in the Hop will be out on the town with their families, so we will run into each other here and there, but not Hop as a group.

3. PLEASE, PLEASE come downtown tomorrow night to check out all the fabulous decorations, fun activities, shopping and merriment!! The Mercury describes a lot of it right here. I will be at the Firebirds lunch tomorrow and The Gallery Open House beginning at 5 pm at 254 E. High Street before hopping around town.

4. Get your tickets for A CHRISTMAS CAROL! It opens at Tri-PAC at 245 E. High Street tonight and runs the next few weeks. I’ll put up a separate post later but get it on your calendar now. Here’s a sneak preview from The Mercury.

5. Last but not least: HAPPY HANNUKAH!! to all readers observing the holiday. May your latkes be crisp and your home filled with the glow and warmth of the Menorah candles.

Pottstown Firebirds return to the nest this Friday!

I was just a kid, but I remember the Firebirds home at the corner of Hanover & Third Streets, across from St. Al’s, if my memory is correct. I think there was a big sign that said something like, “Home of the Championship Pottstown Firebirds.” As a budding athlete, who was interested in all kinds of sports, there was a lot of pride in the community for that team. I’m really looking forward to attending the lunch and reception described below. Come out and meet some of the men who made it happen! More details can be found below and at The Gallery’s website.

Come Celebrate with the Pottstown Firebirds!

The Pottstown Firebirds are coming home, and you are invited to share the day with them! In celebration of the Gallery School of Pottstown’s second edition of the Pottstown Signature Series, which this year honors the Pottstown Firebirds, we will be holding a day of celebration leading up to our holiday party.

The day begins with a fabulous lunch at Brookside Country Club with the team members and managers of the Pottstown Firebirds. Enjoy a delicious menu and relive that time in our town’s history when the Firebirds were all the buzz. The lunch starts at noon and a reservation is required.

Scheduled to attend from the Firebirds: Bob Calvario — President; Al Cavallo — Program advertising; Neil Mahr– Printing /Programs; Jack Dolbin — WR (played for Denver Broncos); Greg Berger — DB; Leo Levandowski — C; Herb Nauss — DB; Dr. William Rakow — DB; Frank Mitchell — OT; John Land — RB; and Jim Haynie – QB.

Tickets are $100 and include lunch and your very own Signature Series poster. A $40 option is available for those only interested in lunch.

And… You are cordially invited to our Annual Holiday Party!
The evening will wind down at Gallery on High, where we will have our annual holiday party with the players and coaches as our special guests. The team will be on hand to sign both the Signature Series posters, which will be available for purchase at the party, or any other Firebirds memorabilia you may have saved over the years. There will also be a display with some Firebirds items from the players’ personal collections. Good food and good times with friends old and new.

Thanks to The Pourhouse for providing the food for this great event!

The party starts at 5pm and ends at 8pm, and there is NO CHARGE to attend. A small donation to the Gallery School for autographed items is greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to info@galleryonhigh.com or 610-326-2506.

Holidays kick into high gear in downtown P-Town!

Okay, it’s official: There’s a lot on tap during the month of December, and we here at Positively!Pottstown want to do our part to make your head spin.

Please check out the updated calendar here and check back every few days because I’m sure I haven’t gotten everything in there yet. For one thing, I’m still nailing down the details of my own High Street Holiday Hop, but rest assured, it IS happening this Friday, December 3rd, and it will be loads of fun with lots of free drawings for cool stuff! The idea of the Holiday Hop is to roam the downtown with like-minded, upbeat holiday carousers, see all the decorations, stop in at businesses, make merry, hear talented singers, sit on Santa’s knee, and support the whole crazy notion of Pottstown having a lively commercial center!!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR POSITIVELY!POTTSTOWN HOLIDAY HOP

5-6 PM Meet-up at The Gallery on High at 254 High St.(NOTE NEW LOCATION) for their Annual Holiday Party & meet legendary Pottstown Firebirds football champs!! Get your free Positively!Pottstown Santa hat! Win a Firebirds t-shirt!

6-6:30 PM Stop in at Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches & decorate an ornament for the Borough tree!

6:30-7:30 PM Still being planned… salon visit and free drawing for manicure… stop at Tri-PAC…

7:45-9 PM Head to Smith Plaza at catch the Pine Forge Academy Choir, hang your ornament on the Borough tree, sit on Santa’s knee, free drawing for 2 carriage rides down High Street! Wind down with warm drinks & dessert at Churchill’s!

**Free Santa hats to the first 20 Holiday Hoppers that rsvp to positivelypottstown@gmail.com**

Something else to do tonight…

I am bummed that I still have not been to James Enders Pop Art Gallery at 217 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA!

Tonight at 7 pm, James Enders Pop Art Gallery presents THE MIAMI VICE ART SHOW: NEW WORKS. This show is the culmination of James’ work for this year. There will be a special appearance by recording artist DAVE ALEXANDER and J-BIZ FROM MAINTAIN RECORDS. There’s a $5 COVER. Must be 21 to drink; 18 to enter.

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