The proclamation authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel as necessary to cope with this emergency situation.

Corbett issued the disaster proclamation this morning after meeting with Glenn Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and other emergency officials at their headquarters in Harrisburg.
“We are urging all Pennsylvanians to take action now to be prepared,’’ Corbett said. “We will continue to monitor this changing situation statewide and plan for all possible emergencies. Should the need arise, we will be able to help as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Citizens can find a full list of helpful suggestions on how to plan for an emergency by visiting the state’s preparedness website, www.ReadyPA.org, or by calling 1-888-9-READY-PA.

The state’s Emergency Operations Center has been monitoring conditions statewide, as well as communicating with other states and federal officials, to assess conditions and coordinate any response necessary to support Pennsylvania’s counties and municipalities in the affected areas.

The latest weather forecasts predict that the eastern portion of the state will bear the brunt of the storm with heavy rains of up to 10 inches, and strong winds gusting to 60 mph or more. The combination of wind and rain could result in downed trees and utility lines, possibly resulting in extensive power outages and flash flooding.

In addition, state emergency officials are in communication with multiple state agencies, including the state departments of Transportation, Health, Public Welfare, General Services, State Police, Pennsylvania National Guard, Turnpike Commission, Public Utility Commission and the American Red Cross, to make sure supplies and personnel are ready if needed.

Individuals needing assistance should call their local municipal emergency management office in the “Blue Pages” section of the phone book or, if they have an emergency, should call 911 immediately. Never call 911 to request or report road conditions. When calling 911 to report an emergency, it is critical for callers to stay on the line, even if for an extended series of rings, until the operator answers.

Motorists can check road conditions on state roads by calling 511 or visiting www.511PA.com. Available 24 hours a day, the number provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 500 traffic cameras. Regional Twitter alerts are also available on the 511PA website.

In the most recent Back-to-School Shopping Forecast survey from PriceGrabber, 95 percent of shoppers will be using money-saving techniques to get school supplies this year. The survey also found that:
* 69 percent will shop online or use comparison shopping websites.
* 52 percent plan to spend as much as they did last year, while 35 percent say they’ll spend less.
* 55 percent will spread the cost of purchases over a longer period of time.

When you’re ready to stock up on backpacks, notebooks and an endless supply of pens, use these tips to help you be a smart back-to-school shopper:

S – Streamline your shopping.
* Instead of driving all over town to get what you need, get as much as you can at one-stop-shops such as Office Depot. Picking up school supplies and classroom supplies – such as tissues, disinfectant wipes, etc. – saves you time and hassle. And it keeps you out of frustrating traffic.
* Check the store’s website before you go – make sure it will have the supplies you need so you don’t waste time looking for something that’s not there. If what you need isn’t in-store, consider ordering online.

M – Make a list.
* Work with your child to craft your shopping list before hitting the stores.
* Many retailers work with local PTAs and school districts to secure back-to-school shopping lists, making it easy to find exactly what your child needs.
* Take an extra pen with you and have your child check off supplies as you get them.

A – Ads and alerts.
* To help you save money, pay attention to the weekly ad inserts in your local newspaper. Combining sale prices with coupons saves you even more. Keep an eye out for super savings, such as Office Depot’s Penny Savers, when you can find many core supplies on sale for just a penny.
* You can also sign up for special deal alerts through retailers’ websites and Facebook pages, giving you the scoop on extra savings.
* If you want to avoid overfilling your email inbox, set up a separate email account just for retail alerts.

R – Rewards and rebates.
* Many retailers have rewards programs that let you in on extra savings.
* Some retailers also have programs that help you earn school supplies for your school. For example, during the back to school season, parents and teachers can give back to communities through Office Depot’s “5% Back to Schools” program, in which 5 percent of purchases goes, in the form of a credit, to a designated school to use towards supplies.
* To take advantage of rebates, check manufacturer websites as well as retailer websites for the latest ways to get money back.

T – Technology tips.
* Keep your computers up to date with the latest virus and malware protection.
* If your child will be doing online research for homework, you can put some parental controls in place to protect your child – check out Google SafeSearch, AOL Parent Controls or ATT Smart Controls, or with your current Internet provider.
* You can see user and professional reviews of parental control software at www.consumersearch.com.

Taking a little time to do your homework now will help you save time and money on school supplies when you’re ready to start shopping. To get the latest in back-to-school savings, visit www.officedepot.com.

The future of more than 218,000 children hangs in the balance as the largest budget cuts in Head Start’s history are being debated by members of Congress. This week, those same elected officials have left the nation’s capital and returned to Pennsylvania’s 6th district to reconnect with local constituents.

Montgomery County Head Start is organizing a stroll-in at Jim Gerlach’s office to protect the 8,131 Pennsylvania children who will no longer have access to comprehensive Head Start services and the 1,873 Head Start staff who stand to lose their jobs. Head Start families, staff and supporters will gather at Jim Gerlach’s office to inform him of the devastating toll budget cuts will have on communities across Pennsylvania.

WHAT: Head Start Stroll-In

WHERE:

Office of Jim Gerlach

580 Main St. Suite #4
Trappe, PA l9426

WHEN: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 1:45 pm

- AC Moore has signed a lease for 21,600 square feet and is expected to open in Spring 2011.

- Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet has signed a lease for 6,000 square feet and will join other restaurants, Chili’s, Pizza Hut and Subway at the shopping center.

- GNC signed a lease for 1,600 square feet and will open in December of this year.

Upland Square now has 90 percent occupancy. Current tenants include Target, Giant, Best Buy, Staples, LA Fitness, Bed Bath & Beyond, Petco, TJ Maxx, Five Below and Famous Footwear.

Upland Square is owned by joint venture partners Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. and Tristate Ventures, LP.

This form allows borough residents to notify the city of issues in their neighborhoods while helping others.

We are working to improve the quality of life in Pottstown. We believe that for homeowners and renters alike we can help the Borough become a better place to live, which will ultimately help with the revitalization of the Borough.

Before this can happen, the substandard housing, slumlords and unkempt housing conditions must be eliminated.

We believe this website can help us change the landscape in the Borough of Pottstown.

Should you have a complaint regarding the above mentioned items please visit http://www.acleanerpottstown.org

Thank you for your participation in this new initiative!

To mitigate these problems, the Montgomery County Commissioners have authorized the Waste System Authority to hold a free tire collection so that residents can get rid of these hard-to-dispose-of items.

On Saturday, September 25th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Municipal parking , 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, the Waste System Authority will hold a tire collection for Montgomery County residents only.  A maximum of 4 tires per vehicle will be allowed, and no tires from commercial activities will be accepted.

Waste tires present environmental, health, and safety hazards. Rainwater accumulates in tire piles creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes, which are known to transmit West Nile Virus.  Another hazard is fire.  A massive tire fire under a major highway in Philadelphia cost millions of dollars in damage and affected commuters and businesses in the region over several months.  Large tire piles can burn for weeks causing the rubber to decompose into oil, which can pollute ground and surface water.

“Disposing of tires properly is an expensive proposition and it’s crucial for the environment and for people’s quality of life,” Commissioners Chairman James R. Matthews said.

“One tire with standing water in it can make it impossible for all the neighbors to enjoy their back yards,” Matthews said. “Even if you’re willing to pay, it’s hard to find anyone who will take old tires.”

Please join the Waste System Authority on September 25th in our efforts to create a cleaner and safer place to work and live. Four tires maximum.

For additional information, contact: Chris Kaasmann, Montgomery County Recycling Coordinator, 610-278-3618 or at recycling@wsaemc.org

Some of the team’s newest swimmers Gabrielle Bianco of Phoenixville, Jennifer Dinnocenti of Spring City, Amanda McKay of Downingtown, and Britta Wilson of Phoenixville, were joined the veteran members Natalia McKay of Downingtown and Marissa Olalde of Phoenixville, to compete in a team routine in which they placed second. Natalia and Amanda McKay also competed with a duet, taking sixth place.

Veteran swimmers Emily Boring, Andrea Stock and Erin Weber, all of Phoenixville, took second for their trio. Boring and Weber took first for their duet, and Boring and Stock took first and third respectively for their solos at the Keystone Games.

Assistant coach Heather Johnson of Spring City took first place for her solo in the master’s (19 years and up) division.

Earlier in the summer, select members of the team also traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they won the third place high point trophy for their showing at the Loyola Aquatic Club Synchronized Swimming Invitational, an international competition featuring teams from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Tonawanda, N.Y., and the Canadian 13-15 Age Group National team.

The third place finish resulted from strong individual, duet, and team performances at the meet.

In the solo competitions, Alexandra Poteet of Chester Springs took fourth in the 11-12 Age Group, and Emily Boring of Phoenixville, and Adriana Colona of Glenmoore, took third and fifth places, respectively, in the 16-17 Age Group.

Among the duets, Tess Cremers of Pottstown and Paige McDonald of Unionville took fifth, and Andrea Stock of Phoenixville, and Natalia Mujica of Chester Springs, took sixth, in the 13-15 Age Group. In the 16-17 Age Group, Boring and her partner, Erin Weber of Phoenixville, took sixth, and Adriana Colona and her partner, Haley Richter of Berwyn took seventh.

The 13-15 team of Mia Colona of Glenmoore, McDonald, Mujica, Poteet, Stock, and Weber took third place for their routine set to a medley of popular Italian songs. Prior to the meet in Puerto Rico, team members competed at both the 2010 National Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships and at the East Zone Age Group and
Intermediate Championships.

At Nationals, in the 11-12 Age Group division, Elise Alexander of Collegeville, Hannah and Heidi Atlas of Malvern, Lily Cremers of Pottstown, Ceili Hamill of Collegeville and Marissa Olalde of Phoenixville, and Alexandra Poteet of Chester Springs, competed with a team routine set to a soda pop jingle medley.

Also at Nationals were the duet of Alexander and Olalde, the trio of Cremers, Atlas and Poteet, the trio of Alexander, Olalde and Heidi Atlas of Malvern and the solo of Poteet.

The team’s Intermediate Division swimmers, who are newer to the sport, participated in the East Zone Championships, the highest level of competition for those girls, after placing well at the Regional level of competition.

At Regionals, the girls had strong swim performances.

In the 11-12 Intermediate division, the team of Kyra Bernotas of Phoenixville, Ceili Hamill of Collegeville, Kyra Skoog of Pottstown, and Heidi Atlas, placed third. Bernotas, Skoog and Hamill took fourth for their trio routine, and Bernotas and Heidi Atlas took fourth for their duet.

In the 13-15 Intermediate division, the team of Erin Boring and Kavita Hivale of Phoenixville, and Natalia McKay, and Alexis and Rachel Warner, all of Downingtown, placed second to qualify for the East Zone Championships. In addition, the duet of Boring and McKay, the trio of Alexis and Rachel Warner, and Hivale; and Boring’s solo all qualified for the zone champs.

The more experienced Age Group swimmers also performed well at Regionals.

In the 13-15 Age Group division, the team of Tess Cremers of Pottstown, Paige McDonald of Unionville, Natalia Mujica of Chester Springs, and Renee Johnson, Andrea Stock and Erin Weber, all of Phoenixville, took third place for their routine set to a medley of popular Italian songs to qualify for Nationals, where they were joined by teammate Mia Colona of Glenmoore. In addition, the trio of Mujica, Stock and Weber finished fourth with their Pirates of the Caribbean routine, and a solo by Sarah Ferris of Berwyn finished second, to qualify for Nationals and the East Zone Championships.

In the 16-17 Age Group division, the team of Emily Boring of Phoenixville, Sarah Ferris and Haley Richter, both of Berwyn, and Maureen McGrath of West Chester took second place for a dramatic routine set to music from the movie Van Helsing. They were joined at Nationals by their teammate Adriana Colona of Glenmoore. Additionally, the trio of Ferris, McGrath and Richter, with Colona as an alternate, took third; the duet of Emily Boring and Weber took fourth, and Emily Boring in solo took third to qualify for Nationals.

While at the competition, the girls also were required to perform “figures,” a set of compulsory positions before a panel of judges, and also scored well, taking numerous ribbons for their strong showing.

• In the 16-17 Age Group figures, Emily Boring took third, and Weber placed seventh.
• In the 13-15 Age Group figures, Mujica took eighth place.
• In the 13-15 Intermediate figures, McKay took fourth and Erin Boring took sixth.
• In the 11-12 Age Group, Poteet took third and Lily Cremers took fifth place.
• In the 11-12 Intermediate figures, Bernotas took fourth, and Heidi Atlas took sixth
place.

The performances at Nationals and in Puerto Rico marked the culmination of many months of preparation and qualifying meets since November, including the Association championships hosted in April at the Phoenixville Area YMCA.

Throughout the season, the girls also scored well enough at a qualifying meet in Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg to compete against teams from throughout the East Coast from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts at the Junior Zone Synchronized Swimming competition in Westfield, N.J.

Younger and less experienced swimmers competed at the Have-a-Heart meet in Maryland, at which many earned high scores, medals and ribbons.

Synchronized swimming involves the in-water performance of dance, gymnastics and swimming movements, choreographed to music. It can include lifts, spins, throws and various underwater positions, some of which are done upside down, many in the deep water and all without the swimmer touching the bottom of the pool. Athletes perform their routines to various types of music, including swing, disco, nostalgic, techno and contemporary. Team routines consist of a group of four to eight swimmers performing together. Swimmers also participate in solo, duet and trio divisions of competition.

This marks the fourth year for the team, which was established at the YMCA in October
2006 by Head Coach Jennifer Hatt, with about a dozen members and has now grown to a field of
about 25 girls ages 8 through high school.

Hatt said she is pleased with what the girls have accomplished in their four years since
the team’s inaugural season at the YMCA. Each year, the team has grown as new swimmers take
lessons and then decide to join the sport.

The Y is now taking sign-ups for the next round of lessons, which will begin Sept. 21 at
both the Phoenixville and Spring Valley branches. The Phoenixville branch will include both a
youth and an adult class.

Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Students will learn the basic
techniques and a short routine, which they will have the chance to perform, if they desire, at the first meet of the season in November.

For more information contact the coach Jennifer Hatt at jhatt@fvymca.org or call the
YMCA 610-933-5861.

The Redner’s Markets Family Expo offers parents, babies, toddlers, ‘tweens, teens, prospective parents and grandparents products and services from over 100 exhibitors and sponsors.

Visitors will be able to sample their favorite brands in the Redner’s pavilion including Chiquita, Clover Farms, Fresh Express, Keebler, Kellogg’s, McCormick, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Turkey Hill and Voortmann Cookies along with deli, produce and bakery items from Redner’s Warehouse Markets.

There will be a full house of fun available with 3200 square feet of inflatable bounces and slides at the K12, Inc. Play Park, along with games, rides and the About Families Diaper Derby.

There will be entertainment on the hour plus a host of costumed characters, clowns, artists and other entertainers that will guarantee a weekend of family fun.  The Country Kids Jamboree will provide a puppet show and games.  The Berks County Sheriff’s Office will be featuring their ID Me Child Identification Program both days of the show.

Visitors can enter to win a grand prize of a year’s worth of groceries valued at $2600.00 from Redner’s Warehouse Markets, along with hourly prizes, and many gift items from Family Expo sponsors and exhibitors.

Redner’s Warehouse Markets, headquartered in Reading, PA, is the title sponsor of the event and are celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2010.  They will be providing a variety of product samples from the most popular brands carried in their 40+ store locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York.  Media marketing for the Redner’s Markets Family Expo encompasses the area’s leading print, television and radio outlets includes WFMZ-TV,  Reading Eagle, Berks-Mont Newspapers, The Merchandiser and About Families & Berks County Living magazines.

Show hours are 10 am to 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.  Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children (3-12) and seniors (55+).  Babies two and under will be admitted free.  Advance $2.00 discount coupons will be available at area Redner’s Warehouse Markets locations.  For updated Expo information visit online at www.rednersfamilyexpo.com

The two students are De-Anna Real, of William Penn Senior High in York, and Jamal James, of West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia. They were among a group of 20 students from 10 states to receive a scholarship. Each student’s high school will also receive a $1,000 grant from the Charles Schwab Foundation.

“The achievement of these two young people should send a strong message to their friends and families, their teachers and principals, and school districts and school boards around Pennsylvania,” said Kaplan. “If more Pennsylvania students and schools follow their example and focus on the importance of financial literacy, Pennsylvania’s economic future will be stronger.”

The competition is designed to illustrate the relevance of financial capability, allowing students to demonstrate what they have learned and assess their financial knowledge. The competition also challenges high school teachers and other educators to teach the basics of personal finance to their students.

More students from Pennsylvania scored in the top 20 percent of the competition than from any other state. Pennsylvania high schools and teachers participated in greater numbers than other states and Pennsylvania students ranked third in the number of perfect scores achieved. Information about this national competition can be found online at www.challenge.treas.gov

The Department of Banking, through its Office of Financial Education, helps Pennsylvania’s teachers incorporate age-appropriate personal finance principles into the reading, math and other subjects they already teach. For more information, visit www.moneysbestfriend.com

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Presentations will focus on education plans and strategies within the tri-county area.  The Membership Breakfast will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 7 – 9 AM at Spring Hollow Golf Club, 3350 Schuylkill Road in Spring City.

The Superintendents in attendance will be given the opportunity to speak about the programs that their school districts are initiating to prepare high school students for a future in the workplace. The school districts to present include Boyertown, Pottstown, Pottsgrove, and Spring-Ford School Districts.

The Chamber will also proudly introduce the following new members that have joined since the last Membership Breakfast held on June 10th: TMC Business Solutions, A.C. Miller Concrete Products, Inc., Copperfield Inn at Lakeside, RK Consulting Services, The Growth Coach, J. H. White Financial Services, LLC., Goose’s Tobacco Outlet & Café, The Post Publications, Physicians Care Surgical Hospital, Money Management International, Java Heaven.

The Breakfast is $25 per Member prepaid; $30 per Member invoiced; & $30 per non-member.  The event is being sponsored by Diamond Credit Union.  For more information about this event, visit the Chamber Calendar on www.tricountyareachamber.com.

The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce is a membership based, business advocacy organization serving over 600 businesses in southeastern Berks, western Montgomery, and northern Chester Counties and along the Route 422 Corridor.  The mission of the organization is to provide relevant membership services and proactive leadership to enhance economic opportunity and quality of life within our region.  For more information, contact the Chamber office at 610.326.2900 or visit tricountyareachamber.com.

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