Tag: Arts

HB 712 – PA Land Bank Legislation

This afternoon I sat in on an hour-long webinar on proposed legislation that would enable the creation and operation of land banks in PA. The ability to create land banks would give all municipalities and counties a tremendous tool against blight and property abandonment. I could see a Pottstown Land Bank working hand-in-hand with The Pottstown Partnership, Genesis Housing and even PACA, offering homes for sale or lease-purchase throughout the Borough, marketing & offering housing and work space to artists (similar to Paducah, KY), attracting homeowners, entrepreneurs and businesses, and getting properties back on the tax rolls. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania sponsored the webinar. The presenters were Cindy Daley, Policy Director of the Housing Alliance, and Irene McClaughlin, an attorney and mediator who has spent her career dealing with blight-related issues in the Pittsburgh area. From the Alliance website: “Anti-blight land banking legislation passed the House on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 by a majority vote of 190-8. HB 712 provides for the creation of land banks for the conversion of vacant or tax-delinquent properties into productive use. The Housing Alliance supports this bill, although we anticipate it will need some technical amendments in the Senate.”

Below are some key points about what this legislation would allow and how a land bank would function. There are still questions about the nitty-gritty details, but with such overwhelming support in the House, it seems like this legislation could very well get passed in some form pretty soon. It is enabling legislation, which means that it allows land banks to be created but it’s up to individual towns and counties. It is NOT mandatory.

There are an estimated 300,000 vacant properties statewide. Between population and job loss and sprawl, rural, inner ring suburbs and urban communities have been faced with blight and abandonment.

An abandoned house or lot reduces the value of all other surrounding houses by an average of $6,720.

There might be potential buyers for these properties, but an inability to find the property owner, the lack of clear title, and debt that exceeds the property’s value all prevent a property from getting a new owner. Existing tools are inadequate: uncertainty of tax foreclosure process; cost & difficulty of condemnation; and existing laws, which have been on the books for decades never anticipated people simply walking away from property.

Land banks are single purpose entities created by local government to manage properties that no reasonable purchaser otherwise wants.

Would allow for the clearing of existing liens and old debt; clearing of title; remediation; assembly of parcels for current market conditions; holding of property until a market emerges; disposal or transfer under terms and conditions driven by the market.

Land banks just a part of a larger picture. Still need tax collection and foreclosure reform along with clearer mechanisms for protecting low-income homeowners or owners who simply wait until the last possible minute before paying their taxes. This enabling legislation – HB 712 – is just the beginning of the process.

Details of HB 712
Defines a Land Bank as a public agency.
Jurisdiction: Cities or counties that are authorized by state law to create a redevelopment authority. Any city or boro with 10K or more population.
Formed by an ordinance subject to approval by a mayor or county executive.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (ICA) between 2 or more land bank jurisdictions.
Smaller jurisdiction could join an existing land bank.
If there’s a land bank in a city and in that county, the county can’t take real property in that city.

Board of Directors
5-11 members (odd number); can include public officials and municipal employees.
Must include at least one voting member who is a community resident and a member of a civic organization, but who is not a public official or employee.
Must have open meetings, a regular meeting schedule and follow Sunshine Laws.
Staff: may hire employees, or have crossover with city staff & municipal functions

General powers
Adopt, amend, repeal bylaws
Borrow money
Issue negotiable revenue bongds and notes
Enter into contracts
Collect rent
Design, develop, construct, demolish real property
Partnerships, joint ventures for development of real property.
Needs to have capacity to maintain the property according to existing codes.

Acquisition & Holding of Property: gift, transfer, exchange, foreclosure, purchase, from municipalities, from tax claim bureaus. At this point, these properties are undesired by anyone else.
Land bank’s real property, income and operations are exempt from state & local taxation.
Land banks may only acquire property within their jurisdiction, except by Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (ICA.) Except if property is leased out to 3rd party for more than 5 years, then income becomes taxable. Ideally, will stabilize and bring up values of surrounding properties.

Disposition: A land bank must create an inventory of its real property which is available to the public for inspection.
May sell, transfer, lease, or mortgage any real property of the land bank.
A land bank may establish priorities for the re-use of real property it conveys, including but not limited to uses for: purely public spaces and places, affordable housing, retail, commercial & industrial activities, conservation areas. These uses are not specified in the bill; it’s up to each particular Land Bank. Priorities don’t have to be uniform across the land bank area. Bill recognizes that land use is going to be specific to location. By-laws and any ICA would establish specifics and priorities.

Financing Land Bank operations:
Grants & loans from municipality, Commonwealth, Fed. Govt. & other public & private sources.
Payments for services rendered.
Rents and leasehold payments.
A practice adopted in Michigan that provides a regular funding source: an agreement is reached with the taxing jurisdictions – not more than 50% of real property taxes collected for 5 years after the transfer of property will go back to the land bank. As proposed in HB 712, this is optional, subject to agreement with municipality and school district.
Borrowing and issuance of bonds. Municipalities may but are not required to guarantee the bonds Bonds and income are tax-exempt.

Required to keep records of proceeding & subject to following state laws:Open meetings, Right To Know, Conflict of Interests, Ethical Standards Laws

Special Powers
Power to discharge & extinguish real property tax liens and claims, subject to the approval of the school district for school taxes.
May file a court action to quiet title in an expedited procedure. Multiple parcels of real property may be joined in a single complaint in action to quiet title.
Land banks do NOT have power of eminent domain.

Dissolution: There is a procedure for dissolution of the Land Bank.

Audits: Land bank income and expenses and a report will be submitted annually to DCED and to participating municipalities.

Land Banks and PA Real Estate Tax Collection & Foreclosure
Municipalities may assign tax claims and liens to the land bank. Municipality and a land bank may agree to a set bid price in advance of public auction (upset sale or judicial sale as well as at “single sale” allowed unter MCTLL (only for Phila and Allegh. Counties)) and transfer property to the Land Bank as purchaser in accordance with the agreement. Within 30 days of the purchase, the land bank must receive the deed transferring the property free and clear of all claims, liens and charges.

Next steps: HB712 is now in Senate Urban Affirs & Housing Committee. The Committee intends to hold a hearing on the bill – early Sept.? The Housing Alliance is convening a Working Group to review the bill & propose amendments. All interested stakeholders are invited to participate. And once the language of HB 712 is finalized, the group will begin working on mechanism for financing land banks and tax sale reform, including strong hardship waivers.

“Tell us what you think about Pottstown.”

That was an online headline at The Mercury this past Friday, June 25. And then it said, “What positive changes need to be made for Pottstown borough to move forward? Tell us in the comments section below.”

Hmmm… I wondered, “Is this a set-up? Is The Mercury deliberately taunting me over here at Positively!Pottstown?”

I’m sorry, dear readers, I couldn’t hold this in any longer! Here’s what I posted over there this afternoon (as Number5).

” Dear Mercury: thanks for asking! I’ve been thinking about doing a series of blog posts about all these interrelated issues, so I guess this is kind of a jumpstart. Sorry for the length – a lot of pent-up thoughts! And my m.o. is to throw a lot out there and see what resonates on the ground – that’s the spirit in which this is offered.

I’m going to stick with the positive spin of the question – suggesting positive changes.

Pottstown, what’s your story? You need a vision and a voice to communicate that vision. It’s got to go deeper & get more specific than the generalities in study after study. For example: former industrial center retains what is good about its small town past AND re-invents itself for the 21st century. It values its river, historic architecture, walkability, neighborhoods, community gardens and businesses that MAKE things. While the industry used to be all about steel, pies, auto parts, etc., now the town makes art, dance, music, recycled-fashion designs, and solar/green technologies. What the heck, maybe it’s home to several organic coffee roasters too. (This is an example!)

What if just about every decision made by town or a local property owner or civic group took that kind of vision into consideration? There are places billing themselves as “sustainable cities.” Maybe Pottstown could be a “sustainable town”? Could something like that provide the framework for guiding revitalization decisions in Pottstown?

Pottstown has never been for the faint-of-heart; hard-working, gutsy immigrants made this community what it was in its heyday. Now is no different. Arts and business entrepreneurs, who have higher risk levels than the average Joe, would totally be in keeping with Pottstown’s immigrant past.

So, where are these risk-takers? You’ve got a bunch of them in the arts and restaurant community in town already. Another commenter has already mentioned them. Any day now, the Pottstown Arts & Cultural Alliance is going to launch a totally cool new website. PACA is on its way to putting a very new face on outsiders’ perceptions of Pottstown. They are adding value to this community by what they do every day and, now, by more effectively communicating what they offer. And they’re just getting started.

The business community and property owners are critical. Bottom line: You gotta fill the spaces on High Street. I’m putting out there right now: If anyone in the business and real estate community wants to put together a clearinghouse website to market their Pottstown properties in an attractive, easy-to-understand format that SELLS, I will gladly help make that happen within, say, 90 days. I’m from out of town and I’ve gone looking for properties as though I were an investor, and it’s not easy to even find out what’s available, let alone where might be some good locations for specific uses like a café or a used bookstore/literary venue or whatever.

Community groups: reduce fragmentation wherever possible. Join forces around a common, positive, pro-active vision. Link to and intersect with the arts, business & educational communities wherever appropriate.

Good government. There’s no way around this. There has to be a “good government” halo around Boro Hall that can be seen from Routes 422 and 100. Anyone stepping into the building has to know they will be treated courteously, fairly and consistently. There’s got to be follow-through. You got an ordinance on the books, you enforce it. If it doesn’t make sense in your new vision of yourself, you set out on a course of careful, PUBLIC consideration, you ENGAGE the affected parties/property owners, and you change it. The arts, business and community groups can go pretty far if they’re all pulling in the same direction, but unless the foundation of government is strong and inspires confidence, yeah, people are going to be hard-pressed to trust their investments here.

Nail down the vision ASAP. Preferably without paying for another study! Communicate the vision, whatever it is, through your ACTIONS. (I’ve got some more specifics to throw out there, but will deal with that on the blog.) Everyone: get your stories straight and tell it that way, over and over again, every time your organization or collective reaches a milestone, large or small. Give the naysayers less and less to talk about, especially on public message boards! ”

” Sorry, meant to sign that post:

Sue Repko
Positively!Pottstown ”

RAGTIME – A musical for our time

“Where is the America we were supposed to get? Was it a silhouette?”
In the musical RAGTIME, Tateh, an Eastern European Jewish immmigrant sings these words as he despairs over the health of his young daughter, whom he has brought to this country to make a better life in the early years of the 20th century. But he may also be singing for today’s immigrants and even the native-born, who are struggling to make ends meet, to hold onto a job, and to provide health care and safe and decent housing for their families.
RAGTIME, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, is an interwoven tale of the haves vs. the have-nots, corporations vs. workers/unions, black vs. white, newcomers vs. the gatekeepers, and tradition vs. women’s rights, all during a time of great change in our nation.

Village Productions is putting on RAGTIME now at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center in downtown Pottstown. The current production engages audiences on several levels – emotionally, musically, spiritually and intellectually. I attended last Sunday’s matinee with my mom and aunt, and as the story and music unfolded before me, I had the growing sense that this was becoming one of the most powerful theater experiences I’d ever had. The fact that this was happening on High Street, in my hometown, which itself is facing some of the same struggles that these characters face – that made it all the more poignant.

The wealth of talent in this company is mind-boggling. The voices are incredible and fill the theater with sorrow and joy. I had a lump in my throat throughout, and a couple scenes in particular still inhabit my psyche nearly a week later.

In one, the character of Mother, brilliantly played by Julie Eurillo, gives us a distinct moment – a pause – when she must decide whether she will accept responsibility for another woman and child in need. It struck me then how we are constantly faced with moral choices. To what extent am I my brother’s or sister’s keeper? What should I do?

Another indelible scene is when the character Coalhouse Walker, Jr. holds his son for the first time. He has been an absent father until that point, but he didn’t even know he had a child. Played by Gary Giles, Coalhouse hums a series of slow, almost primal, notes of recognition and love that come from way deep within. For me, Gary Giles will always be Coalhouse.

The production and staging are inventive. Two video screens keep the audience oriented geographically as the scenes shift from various locations in New York City, New Rochelle, NY, Massachusetts, and Atlantic City. Somehow there’s a 14-piece orchestra above the set, and the costumes are astonishing.

RAGTIME runs this weekend and next. Last weekend was the theater’s biggest opening yet, and the word is out about this remarkable show, so don’t wait. Shows take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and a Sunday matinee, until June 20. Ticket info. can be found at Tri-PAC’s website.

Enter to Win RAGTIME tickets!

This Friday, Positively!Pottstown will be giving away two FREE tickets to the opening night performance of RAGTIME, The Musical at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center on High St. The show starts at 7:30 pm on Thursday, June 3. Tickets are courtesy of Tri-PAC/Village Productions. There’s A LOT of buzz about RAGTIME, which was just featured yesterday on The 10! Show on NBC.

To enter the drawing, all you have to do is:

1. Become a subscriber to Positively!Pottstown using the box to the right.
OR
2. Become a fan of Positively Pottstown on Facebook.
OR
3. Send an email to positivelypottstown@gmail.com saying you’d like your name thrown into the proverbial hat. No other commitment necessary.

If you’ve already got your tickets, maybe you want to try to win some for a friend? Good luck! And keep spreading spread the word about this remarkable show!

Tri-County Performing Arts Center: The Journey On

Last Friday’s “State of the Organization” event at the Tri-PAC began with a tasty array of food from area restaurants and caterers. Thank goodness Dean Foster, wine genius and fellow blogger, was there to steer me in the right direction at the wine table. (Definitely look for the guy with the full, white beard at similar events around town & don’t be shy about asking for help!) It was also a pleasure to meet Tom Abbott, publisher of The Mercury, who slyly suggested that someone write about the event. Positively!Pottstown was already on the case! So, here you go…

Photo courtesy of Village Productions

I knew the program would be informative in nature, updating the community on how far the organization had come and where they’re headed, but I had no idea how entertaining it would be. Musical selections from the upcoming production of Ragtime, The Musical alternated with information about the importance of the arts and the actual achievements of Tri-PAC, and the format was just right. In fact, it was downright fun. And inspiring, especially the voices rising in song, filling the main stage up to the rafters.

Photo courtesy of Village Productions

Speakers included Bill Kiesling, singer & Spouse Extraordinaire; Deborah Stimson-Snow, Artistic Director; Martha McGeary Snider, PA Policy Advisor for Arts and Culture; Marta Rubin Kiesling, Executive Director; Jordan Shoemaker, student, singer, actress; and Tri-PAC board member and actress Lisa Waltz, a Spring Ford and Carnegie Mellon grad, now living and working in L.A.

What grabbed my attention at the start was Deborah Stimson-Snow saying, “There’s a kind of truth happening here… There’s an opportunity every day to do something true.” Yes – that’s what live performance is all about – an artist or group of artists sharing a search for some kind of truth with an audience. This is a noble thing.

The social impact of the arts is now a well-documented phenomenon, and Martha McGeary Snider, Policy Advisor Arts and Culture for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, hit the high points. A strong arts presence can be a stabilizing force in neighborhoods, providing a common destination, a shared language and a place for diversity to flourish, which is exactly what’s taking place at the Tri-PAC.

Marta Rubin Kiesling, Executive Director, provided key statistics from the fall of 2008 to the spring of 2010. These numbers are essential to understanding exactly what Village Productions has achieved, and it’s pretty astounding:

– Over 14,000 audience members
– Over 150 performances
– Over 800 students
– 64 classes
– 11 staff
– Participation of hundreds of volunteers
– Educational outreach to more than 1,000 students

Educational offerings run the gamut, from children’s classes to voice, guitar, comedy improvisation, piano, dancing, directing, script analysis and group singing. There’s something for every one in every age group.

In looking toward the future, Tri-PAC will soon be offering subscriptions. They’re continually finding ways to increase student and community outreach, and they hope to add a retail and concession stand in the lobby area. Perhaps the most important project will be the façade improvement, giving them greater visibility and creating a landmark location on High Street. Representatives from the state are coming to town today to meet and consider a funding request for the façade improvement project. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. (Feel free to post your support for that project right here!)

The success of the Tri-PAC is a KEY ingredient in the revitalization of Pottstown’s downtown. As McGeary-Snider pointed out early in the program: The arts mean business. And she added, “There is a distinct relationship between engagement in art and engagement in civic life.”

In the end, it all comes down to personal responsibility. Strengthening the arts in your hometown is your civic duty. It also happens to be fun and uplifting. Sign up for a class. Volunteer. Get a group of friends together and see a show. A lively downtown will be the result of the artist, or audience member in each of us, coming out from behind the curtain, or taking our seat in the darkened theater, joining other human beings on a journey for some kind of truth.

Note: More on Ragtime, The Musical in a future post. Subscribe to Positively!Pottstown or join on Facebook to enter a drawing for free tickets!

Pottstown’s Weekend… at a glance

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN POTTSTOWN THIS WEEKEND AND BEYOND…

May 14 – State of the Organization, reception & multimedia presentation
Special Guest Speakers Lisa Waltz & Martha McGeary Snider
Location: Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street
Time: 6-8 pm
RSVP: events@villageproductions.org

May 10-15 – Spring Student Faculty Show in the Gallery
Location: The Gallery on High, 254 E. High Street, Pottstown
Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10am to 4:30pm; Friday 10am to 5:30pm; Saturday 10am to 3pm; closed Sunday and Monday.

May 15 and every Saturday – Singer/songwriter Showcase
Location: Churchill Artisan Baker & Chocolatier, 137 High Street, Pottstown
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
Phone: 484-941-5100

May 15 and every Saturday night – DJ Dance Party
Location: The Brickhouse Restaurant, 152 E. High St., Pottstown
Phone: 610-906-3527

May 16 – Margaretta R. Lamb & the Boyertown Area Choral Association’s 20th Annual Free Spring Concert
Location: St. James Lutheran Church, 1101 E. High St., Pottstown
Time: 3 pm
Cost: Free!

May 22-23 – Senior Follies
Location: Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street, Pottstown
Time: Saturday, 8 pm; Sunday, 3 pm
Tickets: ADULTS $12; STUDENTS/SENIORS (65+) $10; CHILDREN (12 & under) $8
$2 off per ticket for groups of 10 or more!

May 22 – Sammy Kaye Orchestra
Location: Sunnybrook Ballroom
Time: 8 pm
Cover: $25 Advance tickets; $32 at the door.

May 24-Aug. 6 – Montgomery County Community College, West Campus Gallery presents
Philadelphia/Tri State Artists Equity
61st Anniversary Exhibition
Location: North Hall, 16 High Street, Pottstown
Time: Mon.-Thurs. 8 am-9:30 pm; Fri. 8 am-4:30 pm
Cost: All exhibits are free & open to the public.
Opening reception Wednesday, June 9 from 5-7pm

June 3-20 – Ragtime, The Musical
Location: Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street, Pottstown
Time:Thursday – 7:30 pm; Friday – 8:00 pm; Saturday – 8:00 pm; Sunday – 3:00 pm
Tickets: ADULT: Thurs $19; Fri, Sat & Sun $23
STUDENT/SENIOR(65+): Thurs $17; Fri, Sat, Sun $21
CHILD (12 & under): Thurs $13; Fri, Sat & Sun $15
$2 off per ticket for groups of 10 or more!

Happy Mother’s Day!

To all the moms – and all the women acting as moms and caregivers in their many different forms – hope you’re having a great day and feeling the love!

Here are photos of the paintings by local artist Fay Talley that I bought at the YWCA Art Show held at The Gallery last week. I have mostly framed photographs around my home – in addition to my kids’ artwork, of course! – so I’m thrilled to have some original paintings (which were very reasonably priced.) 🙂

I can’t seem to get the “caption” or “title” function to work today. You should be able to match these titles with the images below: “Justa Pear,” “Reds,” and “Reaching for the Sun.”

Everybody’s working for the weekend…

It’s Friday and that tune and lyrics from the 1980s Canadian band Loverboy are stuck in my head, and now you, too, can sing (or suffer) along with me!

Here’s some of what’s on tap for the weekend. If anyone’s got more, feel free to add to the list.

Oh, I also have to make a plug for the YWCA Women’s Festival of the Arts, which ends tomorrow at The Gallery on High. I was at the opening last weekend, and it was packed. I got three small, beautiful paintings done by local artist Fay Talley. I hope to track her down for an interview. I’ll pick up my paintings this weekend and post some photos in a couple days. A portion of all sales benefits the YWCA; maybe there’s something there that your mom will enjoy? Stop by to take a look around before it’s too late! The show ends tomorrow!

THINGS TO SEE AND DO WHILE YOU’RE IN POTTSTOWN THIS WEEKEND

April 30-May 8 – YWCA Women’s Festival of the Arts
Location: The Gallery on High, 254 E. High St.
Opening Reception: 6-8pm, Friday, April 30

May7-9 – Melange Contemporary Dance: So You Think You Can Dance!
Location: Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street
Time: Friday & Saturday, 8 pm; Sunday, 3 pm
Cost: Adult $17; Senior/Student $15; Child (12 & under) $13

May 7 – Camp Hill Fundraiser Dinner Dance – Tennis Ball
Location: Sunnybrook Ballroom
Time: 6:30 pm
Band: Jump City Jazz Orchestra

May 8 – Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company 2010-2011 Season Auditions
Location: Pottstown Dance Theater
Time: 12-3 pm
For further information: thesvrdc@yahoo.com or 484.941.0683

May 8 – Otherwise-Poetry at Churchill’s featuring Jules Gibbs & Bruce Smith
Location: Churchill Artisan Baker & Chocolatier, 137 High Street
Time: 7 pm
Host: Glenn McLaughlin (featured readings followed by open mic)

Calendar

Wow. I had the sense that there was plenty going on, but until I tried to put together a calendar, I didn’t realize just how much.

Maintaining a calendar & putting in all the links is – um – kind of a lot of work. I don’t know if I have the stamina for it… but WAIT!

The Pottstown Arts & Cultural Alliance is going to be unveiling its new website in the very near future, and they’re going to have a calendar, so maybe the calendar here can just serve as a temporary clearinghouse until the PACA page comes along? For now, here you go…

April 22-25 – A Night of David Ives One-Acts
Location: Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street
Times & Tickets:
Friday, Apr. 23 – 8:00 pm
Saturday, Apr. 24 – 8:00 pm
Sunday, Apr. 25 – 3:00 pm
ADULT: Thurs $15; Fri, Sat & Sun $17
STUDENT/SENIOR(65+): Thurs $13; Fri, Sat, Sun $15
CHILD (12 & under): Thurs $11; Fri, Sat & Sun $13
$2 off per ticket for groups of 10 or more!

April 23 – DJ Bruce Miller, dance to sounds of 50s, 60s, 70s
Location: Sunnybrook Ballroom, Colonial Room
Time: 8-11pm, doors open 7:45 pm
Cover: $5
Age: Over 21

April 24 – Rian Wallace 4th Annual Goals Over Obstacles Football Clinic
Location: PHS Grigg Memorial Field, 750 N. Washington St.
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Cost: Free
Register: GoalsOverObstacles@gmail.com

April 24 – Wondabubba and the Big Splash
Location: Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High Street
Time: 11 am and 3 pm
Tickets: ADULT: $8, Children: $5, Senior/Student: $8
Age: Recommended for grades K-3

April 24 – Singer Songwriter Showcase
Location: Churchill Artisan Baker & Chocolatier, 137 High Street
Time: Every Saturday, see schedule & performers here

April 25 – Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Co. Fundraiser
Location: Limerick Bowl
Time: 2-4 pm
Cover: $15 (includes shoes, ball, raffle ticket)

April 30-May 8 – YWCA Women’s Festival of the Arts
Location: The Gallery on High, 254 E. High St.
Opening Reception: 6-8pm, Friday, April 30

April 30 – Emily’s Toy Box
Location: The Brick House, 152 E High Street
Time:10 p.m.

May 1 – Pottstown’s First Saturday
Location: Smith Family Plaza, 100 High Street
Time: 10 am – 2 pm

Children’s activities, vendors, flea market, live entertainment
10-11– SwingKat swing & salsa demonstration
11-12 – High Street Music Showcase
12-2 – Gene Galligan

Be a part of “Car-Art” and help paint a 1949 Buick!

Compete in “Project Art-cycle” alone or bring a team. Register for this event by April 28th. You bring art supplies. On May 1st, you’ll be given a kit of recycled materials to use in your sculpture, plus an optional bonus item. Work from 10am-1pm, then let the judges do their job! Register at info@galleryonhigh.com

May 2 – Polka Gala featuring the Polka Family Band and Ray Jay & the Carousels
Location: Sunnybrook Ballroom
Time: noon-8 pm
Cover: $15 in advance; $20 at the door

May 2 – Sunday in the Park Music Series featuring Neighbor Poem
Location: Riverfront Park amphitheater, College Drive, Pottstown
Time: 2-4 pm
Cover: Free.

May 2 – Kinnara Choral Ensemble
Location: Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Time: 7:30 pm
Cover: Free. (A free-will offering will be collected.)

May 5 – Wine After Five Celebrates Cinco de Mayo
Location: Gallery School, 254 E. High St.
Time: 6:30 pm
Cover: $45, fundraiser. Must purchase tix before April 30.

May 8 – Otherwise-Poetry at Churchill’s featuring Jules Gibbs & Bruce Smith
Location: Churchill Artisan Baker & Chocolatier
137 High Street
Time: 7 pm
Host: Glenn McLaughlin (featured readings followed by open mic)

Trash Talk

Although I’ve done my share of trash-talkin’ on basketball courts in PA and NJ, this post is actually about real trash 🙂 This Saturday from 8 am – noon, there will be neighborhood clean-ups happening around Pottstown. The clean-up was organized by Councilman Mark Gibson and Bill Sharon of the Codes Department. Details can be found on the Borough website & in The Mercury. The gist of it is that you can get trash bags at Borough Hall or Empire Hook & Ladder at Franklin & Chestnut. Fill the bags with trash from your neighborhood and leave them on pre-approved street corners, where they’ll be picked up later in the day. (Exelon has donated two dumpsters for the stuff.) And don’t forget to stop by Empire afterward for free refreshments, donated by Genesis Housing Corp.

For information contact: Bill Sharon 610-970-6507 or Mark Gibson 610-960-9445

And now for another kind of trash-talk…

The current exhibit at The Gallery on High is “Ecoart,” and it features pieces made from recycled, re-used and salvaged materials. It’s free and open to the public and runs until April 24. Check it out. Who knows? You might pick up something Saturday morning that you’ll want to turn into a work of art!

The Gallery is at 254 E. High St. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10am to 4:30pm; Friday 10am to 5:30pm; Saturday 10am to 3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday

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