On Saturday, August 14, 2010, West Lawn United Methodist Church, in conjunction with its Peach Festival, will host its first Community Peach Pie Contest.

The contest is open to anyone in Berks County, except cooking professionals. Two age groups will be judged; Junior (age 12-17) and Adult (age 18+). Individuals are welcome to enter peach pies only – no tarts, cobblers, crisps or cream pies. Pies will be judged on external characteristics, internal characteristics, flavor and recipe.

Pre-registration is required. Prizes will be awarded for the top three pies in each age category and for the best of competition. Winners will be announced during the Peach Festival, on the lawns of West Lawn UMC, between 4-8 p.m.

For a registration form and complete contest rules, please contact the
Church at 610-678-5611.

Contact:
Kelly Rismiller, Director of Christian Education
West Lawn United Methodist Church
610-678-5611, ext. 19
Kelly@westlawnumc.org

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POTTSTOWN, PA – Limerick Generating Station is proud to once again sponsor the 2010 Exelon Nuclear Summer Concert Series in Lower Pottsgrove Township. The concert series runs through Aug. 15 at the Sanatoga Park Band Shell.

“Limerick Generating Station has been a friend to Lower Pottsgrove Township for many years and their continuing support of our summer concert series is a testament to their commitment to the local community,” said Township Manager Rod Hawthorne.

“At Exelon we know the important role that the performing arts and live music have in making our community a great place to live and work,” said Bill Maguire, Limerick site vice president. “We are pleased that we can continue to partner with Lower Pottsgrove Township to make these free musical performances possible.”

“This is another wonderful demonstration of the sense of community we all enjoy in Lower
Pottsgrove,” said Jon Spadt, president, Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners.
The free musical performances, covering an array of genres, are held at Sanatoga Park, located at 200 South Sanatoga Road in Lower Pottsgrove. Listed below is the schedule of concerts for the 2010 Exelon Nuclear Summer Concert Series.

Sunday, June 27th, 6 PM – Bill Koss Combo
Sunday, July 11th, 6 PM – O’Such Rhythm and Music
Sunday, July 18th, 6 PM – Mango Men
Sunday, July 25th, 6 PM – Barbone Street Jazz Band
Sunday, August 1st, 6 PM – Flamin Dick and the Hot Rods
Sunday, August 8th, 6 PM – MESA
Sunday, August 15th, 6 PM – Pottsgrove Community Band

All concerts are weather permitting and the rain date is the following evening at 7 PM.
For more information about the Exelon Nuclear Summer Concert Series, visit www.lowerpottsgrove.org or call (610) 323-0436 x207.

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Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. The company has one of the industry’s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois and southeastern Pennsylvania and natural gas to approximately 486,000 customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC.

The image to the left shows what Pottstown and surrounding would look like as of June 15, 2010 if it were centered on 19464.

An explosion on the BP operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed eleven crew members on April 20, 2010, sparking the greatest environmental disaster in United States history. In combination with the Texas City Refinery Explosion and the Prudohoe Bay Oil Spill, this marks the third serious incident involving BP in the United States in the last five years. Current estimates put the amount of oil being discharged from the broken well at above 1,050,000 US gallons per day! There are over 400 different species of animals living in the area affected by the spill. 330 sea turtles and 39 dolphins have been found dead within the spill area (NOAA). BP is operating oil skimmers and other cleanup tools to try to remove oil from the water and Louisiana is building oil containment berms to halt the spread of oil. Experts are uncertain what effect, if any, these efforts will have.

View what your town would look like here.

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Now in its 61st year, the folk festival is a one-of-a-kind experience that gathers together the Oxenfords and some 200 of America’s finest traditional craftsmen, as well as blends the old and the new in comfortable surroundings. This year’s festival has been designated one of the top 100 events in the country by the American Bus Association.

The 2010 Kutztown Folk Festival runs from July 3-11 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. Hours daily are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a free brochure, please call 1-888-674-6136 or 610-683-1597.

Renowned for her Early American tole and decorative paintings–and Ray Oxenford, an accomplished traditional tinsmith, will make their 15th straight appearance at the Kutztown Folk Festival from July 3 through July 11, 2010. They will also participate in several other guild, craft and arts shows throughout the remainder of 2010.

Pat Oxenford designs and decorates all types of tinware including trays, document boxes, coffee and teapots, spice canisters and more using authentic 18th, 19th and 20th century designs. She is very much in demand for her work and knowledge and frequently offers toleware and tole painting seminars at the festival. Her specialty is recreating old-world German bride’s boxes and personalizing them for clients for weddings, anniversaries and other occasions. She has done numerous commissions and teaches at the Kutztown, Pa. German Cultural Heritage Center  and at the Harleysville, Pa. Mennonite Museum.

At this year’s festival, she will be introducing three smaller versions of her Jonas Weber chests and new Lehnware turnings. She will also exhibit her bride’s boxes, toleware, Weber-style miniature chests, wooden wall shelves, pipe boxes and wall sconces. She will also sign and sell her book, “Heritage Crafts Today—Tole Painting” (Stackpole Books) at their festival booth (A-1) in the A Building.

Pat Oxenford is also featured in photographer Sally Wiener Grotta’s traveling exhibit “American Hands,” a celebration of Americans who are keeping alive the functional skills that helped build the country.  It will be offered at various locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.(www.AmHands.com)

Ray Oxenford, who collaborates with his wife and makes all of their wooden items including the bride’s, salt, candle, Bible and pipe boxes and Weber-style chests, has more than 45 years experience in the antiques business, as well as being a tinsmith and woodworker. He creates his own tinware using authentic 18th and 19th century patterns and designs and restores old tinware. The couple often recreates an early tin shop as part of their shows.

The Oxenfords will also appear at these 2010 events:

• The Historic East Berlin 36th Annual Colonial Day on Sat., Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is being held rain or shine on West King Street in East Berlin, Pa.

• The Applebutter Frolic at Harleysville, Pa., on Sat., Oct. 2, sponsored by the Harleysville Mennonite Museum, where Pat Oxenford also teaches and exhibits.

• The 42nd Annual Traditional Craft and Folk Art Sale, South Heidelberg Township Municipal Building, Wernersville, Pa., on Sat., Oct. 16.  It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.

• The 61st Annual Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Juried Holiday Craft Festival on Nov. 6 and 7 at Keystone Hall, Kutztown university, Kutztown, Pa. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Visit the Oxenfords’ website at www.paoxenford.com or the festival website at www.kutztownfestival.com.

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Are you ready for the summer fun to begin? Then join us for the 2nd Annual “A Taste of the Valley Food Festival”. It’s the place to be for fantastic food, great live entertainment, and tons of fun.

Sunday, June 13th, 2010 – 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

560 Royersford Rd.
Limerick, PA 19468

There will be a variety of foods from local restaurants. Last year’s winner of the “Top Ticket Selling” contest Ortino’s North Side takes on Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse and many more to try and retain their title. There will be live entertainment all day long, as well as arts and craft vendors from all over the east coast joining the event and of course, games and activities for the children.

Come see the West-Mont soccer coaches take the field in an epic soccer match and the 1st Annual Orange and Blue game will be kicked off by Philadelphia Eagle’s very own SWOOP!!!

For more information about the event visit www.PATasteOfTheValley.com

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What: Pottstown Memorial Day Parade

When: Monday, May 31, 2010

What Time: 10:00 Am

Where: Starts at Good Will Fire Company on High Street and goes to Manatawny Street to Memorial Park

The Pottstown Memorial Day Parade is being hosted by the Pottstown Joint Veterans Council.

Hope to see you there!

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Have you ever visited the Website Craigslist?  Well local Entrepreneur, John Henning, has and there is something missing.

The one thing he misses the most is a local site that offers similar services for the Pottstown, Pa area.  So he created a site called ePottstown.com where local users can post local classified ads for free.

You can post an ad for free here.  Registration is required to help prevent misuse, but the registration is simple and quick. You can register for free here.

Looking for a dresser? Want to sell your car? Now you can do it for free at: www.ePottstown.com

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4th Annual Family Fun Day sponsored by The Angelina Foundation

Saturday, May 22 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

French Creek State Park, Elverson, PA

The Angelina Foundation is hosting its 4^th Annual Family Fun Day, which will be held at French Creek State Park on Saturday, May 22^nd from 12 pm to 4 pm.  Family entertainment will include moon bounces, carnival games, arts and crafts, hay rides, balloon animals, face-painting, visits by your favorite characters, barrel rides, food, and beverages.   ADMISSION IS ALL-INCLUSIVE!  Pay $10 per person (over 3) in advance or $15 per person (over 3) at the gate.  Admission gets you unlimited access to all the above.   The Fun Day will also have a silent auction and crafters for the adults to enjoy.  The Angelina Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money for the Metabolic Research Department at CHOP.  Money raised goes toward research that will improve the lives of children affected by metabolic diseases.   For more information visit www.angelinafoundation.org, e-mail us at damaio@angelinafoundation.org, or call us at 484-332-3914.

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Pottstown, PA. – Wawa, Inc. announced the grand opening of their newest addition- a brand new store located on 1417 South Hanover Street in Pottstown, PA.

To mark the opening of the new store, Wawa is hosting a military-inspired celebration complete with a military salute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, and a check presentation for $500 to the United States Marine Corp Toys for Tots foundation; the donation will be made on behalf of the son of the General manager of the Pottstown store, who currently serves in the Marine Corps and was recently deployed to Operation Iraqi freedom.

Wawa will also be saluting our local heroes at the celebration through a charitable hoagie building contest between the North Coventry Police Department and the Norco Fire Department .

“As a company that understands what it means to be available 24/7,  service and dedication are values Wawa holds in the highest regard, so we would like to wholeheartedly thank our Soldiers for their unfaltering commitment to protecting us all,” said Howard Stoeckel, Wawa’s President and CEO.  “We feel honored to support their valiant efforts through this exciting grand opening celebration.

On Friday, December 18, 2009, at 10:00 AM, Wawa will officially commence the grand opening ceremony with a salute to the men and women of the armed forces currently serving in Iraq.  Wawa executives, store associates and Wawa’s mascot, Wally Goose, will be on hand to share in and celebrate the grand opening festivities.  The National Anthem will then performed by the ROTC Color Guard led by Captain Marc T. Stanley, USN (Ret) and Senior Naval Science Instructor at Owen J. Roberts High School.  At the conclusion of the National Anthem, Wawa will present a $500 check to o the United States Marine Corp Toys for Tots foundation on behalf of LCP Christopher Mest, (Pottstown General Manager, Joelle Mest’s son) who is a MP with the Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 out of Willow Grove.  The Toys for Tots check will be accepted by Major Brooks, a retired marine who now works with Toys for Tots.

Immediately following the check presentation, the Hoagies for Heroes hoagie building contest will begin.  The contest will pit a team from the North Coventry Police Department and the Norco Fire Department against one another in a battle for the title of “heroes” of hoagie building.  Each team will be challenged to build as many hoagies as they can in the traditional Wawa way in three minutes.  Wawa will contribute $1,000 on behalf of the charity of the winning team’s choice and $500 on behalf of the runner’s up choice.

“I feel lucky to be a part of a company that has a special relationship with the men and women of the armed forces, and know first hand, how much this donation will mean to my son and all the troops,” said Joelle Mest, GM of the Pottstown store.  “Our local heroes and troops abroad deserve to be recognized everyday, and I thank Wawa for making them a meaningful part of the exciting community celebration.”

The Pottstown location features Wawa’s new store design prototype, including 4,600 square feet of retail space and additional gasoline facility, as well as new in-store graphics, colors, restroom design, and merchandising features.   Joelle Mest, will serve as General Manager of the store, leading a team of nearly 30 associates, a number of which are new positions brought to the area through the development of the store.  Joelle has worked at Wawa since 1985, serving at a number of stores throughout the chain.

The Pottstown  store offers customers numerous Wawa brands such as the award-winning Wawa coffee (195 million cups sold annually); the Sizzliä, Wawa’s hot breakfast sandwich; a full-service deli; Wawa Bakery; Wawa’s built-to-order hoagies (70 million sold annually); and Wawa’s beverage line of dairy products, juices and teas.

Wawa’s branded gasoline operation includes eight gasoline dispenser sections that can fuel 16 cars at once and offers customers easy access to the lot while not interfering with the convenience store.  Wawa’s premium gasoline offers standard features such as on-site quality testing and up-to-the-minute systems designed to monitor and protect the quality of the product as well as the environment. The gasoline also features a performance guarantee, and Wawa’s gasoline systems meet or exceed Environmental Protection Agency standards.

About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey.  Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pa, in 1902.  The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process.  As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960’s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products.  Today, Wawa operates more than 560 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

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