Good day to all, except those who don’t use turn signals while driving! ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

Proposed $139.2M Budget Approved by Boyertown School Board in 5-3 Vote

The Boyertown School Board has approved a proposed budget of $139.2 million, which includes a 3% increase in property taxes. The budget was passed with a 5-3 vote, with board members Ruth Dierolf, Christine Neiman, and Marianne Scott dissenting. James Brophy was not present.

The budget carries a $1.8 million deficit, which is proposed to be covered using the district's $12 million reserve funds. However, the Chief Financial Officer Patricia Denicola warned against the frequent use of these funds and expressed hope in the state's new budget plan, which promises fairer public school funding.

A significant concern raised during the discussion was the rising tuition paid to charter schools, primarily cyber charter schools, projected to exceed $7 million in the coming year. Some board members and administrators criticized the lack of accountability in cyber charter schools and called for charter school tuition reform.

The district has been trying to create its own cyber program to attract students back, but there have been challenges in retaining students. Superintendent MaryBeth Torchia stressed the difficulty of competing with families who opt for cyber charter schools, which she claims, "allow their students to fail."

In response to the charter school issue, board member Lisa Hogan proposed creating an Advocacy Committee, and board members urged stakeholders to lobby for charter school funding reform.

CFO Denicola reassured that the budget can be further revised until the final budget vote in June.

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Cocaine Worth $4 Million Shipped from Puerto Rico Leads to Charges Against 12 Individuals in Reading

Twelve individuals have been implicated in a drug trafficking operation that moved $4 million worth of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Reading, Pennsylvania.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Special Delivery," was a collaboration between local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigations office.

Two of the accused, Jeffrey Ramos-Perez and Jennifer Zerolo-Feliciano, were allegedly the ringleaders, managing the operation from Puerto Rico. During the investigation, 40 kilograms of cocaine were seized. Charges include possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.

Eleven of the twelve suspects have been apprehended, with one remaining at large.

The following individuals were implicated in the drug ring:

1. Jeffrey Ramos-Perez, 22

2. Jennifer Zerolo-Feliciano, 30

3. Cruz Lebron-DeJesus, 42

4. Jeffrey Cedeno-Ramirez, 41

5. Raquel Rivera-Maldonado, 45

6. Jose Escobar-Camacho, 39

7. Hector Luis Rosado-Ortiz, 39

8. Javier Rosario-Bones, 51

9. Rodrigo Fontanez-Cortez, 43

10. David Arocho-Cortes, 34

11. Grace Diaz-Rodriguez, 29

12. Michel Diaz-Ramos, 33

Eleven out of twelve suspects have been arrested, with Lebron-DeJesus remaining elusive.

Who has the BEST PIZZA in Pottstown?

We want to know who you think has the best!

Pizza in general is never really that bad, but when it’s good, it’s really good!!!

But that doesn’t stop anyone from weighing in on who they think has the BEST PIZZA!

We can’t try all of the pizza by ourselves (ok…maybe we can try…), so we decided to ask you! We want to know who YOU think has the ABSOLUTE BEST PIZZA in the Pottstown PA area! 🍕🍕🍕

Vote Below 👇👇👇

We asked some Pottstown Locals to nominate some Local Pizza Places. We know we didn’t get them all so if YOUR Favorite isn’t listed, just elect other and NOMINATE who you think we should have on the list!

If you know a Pizza Shop that wants to get in on the action, please share this Pottstown Local Scoop Issue with them. We encourage ‘stuffing’ the ballot box 😂

You can also invite them (ehem…’encourage’ them to…well, you know…!)

You should also definitely Share Pottstown Local Scoop with anyone you know and ask them to vote too!

We put together this handy dandy ‘Share’ Button below. 👇👇👇

Business

Spark email integrates +AI to expedite and enhance email composition, ensuring continued control over your inbox

The well-liked email client, Spark, has announced a substantial update that includes generative AI as a personal assistant. This new feature, known as Spark +AI, aims to expedite your email composition process, enhance the quality of your communication, and bolster your confidence, all the while preserving your independence and privacy.

In a blog post, the creators of Spark, Readdle, elucidated on the AI enhancement:

“We're thrilled to present Spark +AI, an innovative Premium tool that leverages generative AI technology to craft the ideal email in a flash. This AI-enabled email assistant is at your service to draft emails and rephrase your drafts, thereby simplifying communication more than ever before. With Spark +AI, the task of drafting emails has become more straightforward, quicker, and a more pleasant experience.”

Spark +AI revolves around three core principles:

• - Accelerating the process of drafting superior emails

• - Encouraging confident communication

• - Maintaining your control over your email

This tool is equipped with features that allow you to compose emails swiftly, rephrase them, and even expand, condense, and modify their tone.

Readdle emphasizes that while Spark +AI is designed to assist in crafting the perfect draft, it does not have the capacity to send emails independently.

Spark +AI employs OpenAI’s GPT integration, and while it means that email content will be shared with OpenAI, Readdle clarifies that this is purely for the purpose of enabling the Spark +AI feature. Your data is neither utilized to train Readdle's nor OpenAI’s models. +AI's primary function is to facilitate the creation of effective emails, all the while safeguarding the privacy and security of your data.

The introduction of these generative AI capabilities is part of Spark Premium. If you're not yet a user or subscriber, Readdle is providing a complimentary 7-day trial to test out the new generative AI functions.

Concerning the distribution of the update, Readdle stated:

Spark +AI is currently being launched in stages on iOS and Android platforms to ensure a stable performance and to keep a check on the load prior to reaching millions of users. iOS users eager to get the update can do so manually by visiting the Spark page on the App Store and clicking on update. While a manual update is not available for Android users, Spark +AI will be made available to all users in the near future.

Pottstown PA Weather

Events

Upcoming Local Events

• THE GEEKDOM CON: This event will be held at The Greater Philadelphia EXPO Center Oaks PA May 26-28th

• Distillery Tour: Manatawny Still Works Distillery in Pottstown, PA is offering distillery tours. The next tour is on Friday, May 26th at 6:00 PM, with additional tours to follow.

• PSHF: The Platinum Series Hip Hop Fest at Rivet!: This Hip Hop festival will take place at Rivet: Canteen & Assembly in Pottstown, PA. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 3rd at 8:00 PM

• 2023 GoFourth Fest Kick-Off Party: This kick-off party for the GoFourth Fest will be held at Iron Gate Biergarten in Pottstown, PA. The event is scheduled for Sunday, June 4th at 1:00 PM

• The First Responders Championship: This championship event will take place at Brookside Country Club in Pottstown, PA. The event is scheduled for Monday, June 19th at 10:00 AM

• Midget Mayhem Wrestling Goes Wild!: Pottstown PA 18+: This wrestling event will take place at Rivet: Canteen & Assembly in Pottstown, PA. The event is scheduled for Sunday, June 25th at 5:00 PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

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Sports

PHILLIES

Trea Turner Ties it Up!

Bohm with Second Career Walk Off for the Dubs!

Phils 6 - Diamondback 5 in the 10th

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