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Upper Pottsgrove Considers New Development Plan for 23-Acre Site; Grocery, Retail, and Restaurants Proposed Amid Zoning Challenges

The previous development plan for a 23-acre site in Upper Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, was put on hold after the German discount grocery chain, Lidl, withdrew its commitment. Joseph R. Gambone Jr., president of the Gambone Group, discussed the situation with Upper Pottsgrove Commissioners during their June 19 meeting. A new plan for the site is being considered which includes a grocery store, retail outlets, and restaurants. While specific tenants haven't been confirmed, Taco Bell was mentioned as a possibility, along with a coffee house, car wash, and even a church.

The project faces some potential hurdles due to Upper Pottsgrove’s strict building setback requirements and zoning issues, particularly concerning the proposed church. The majority of the site is located in West Pottsgrove, and the developers have asked the Upper Pottsgrove commissioners to adopt West Pottsgrove’s zoning rules regarding setbacks. They are also seeking changes to zoning provisions for the area to avoid tenants needing to apply for variances.

The Upper Pottsgrove Commissioners made no decisions during the meeting. However, with an increasing number of development proposals emerging, Commissioner Cathy Paretti called for the reinstatement of the Planning Commission, which was dissolved in 2020 due to internal conflicts among the commissioners. Paretti believes a functional planning commission is necessary given the current wave of proposed developments.

French Creek State Park Pool Reopens After Three Years, Offering Recreational Oasis to Pennsylvania Residents

After three summers of closure, the pool at French Creek State Park in Elverson, Pennsylvania, has reopened for public use. The pool, located near Hopewell Lake, forms part of a park that spans nearly 8,000 acres across Chester and Berks Counties.

The pool was reopened Memorial Day weekend of 2023 and is now open five days a week, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays, until Labor Day.

The park's operations manager, James Wassell, expressed enthusiasm about the reopening, stating that it's crucial to have safe places for people to enjoy the outdoors. In addition to swimming, the park offers a range of outdoor activities including picnicking, biking, wildlife watching, camping, and water sports.

The pool had been closed since 2020 due to the pandemic, followed by a closure in 2021 for necessary safety repairs to the liner, concrete, and gutter system. The 2022 closure was due to a lifeguard shortage and increased costs of supplies such as chlorine, which led the pool's independent contractor to opt out of their contract.

Now, with a new contractor secured for the next decade, the pool is up and running again. Access to the pool is priced at $12, with season passes and pavilion rentals also available. Lifeguards are on duty during open hours, and a food concession stand is open during the swimming season.

For further information, please visit the following websites: https://frenchcreekswimmingpool.com/, www.frenchcreekboatrental.com, and www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/FrenchCreekStatePark.

Hill School Grant Enables Expanded Access to Steel River Playhouse's Educational Programs in Pottstown

Steel River Playhouse in Pottstown is dedicated to offering a range of educational programs to the community, encompassing areas like acting, voice coaching, guitar and ukulele lessons, workshops, summer camps, and an immersive summer Bridge program. Both group and individual instruction is available, catering to a variety of ages and interests.

A grant from The Hill School will enable more students to attend these classes and workshops by providing tuition assistance. This initiative will support students who have aspirations in performing arts or technical aspects of theater, or those simply looking to improve skills such as teamwork, public speaking, and self-confidence.

According to the Education Director, Stacey Michaud, the theater's educational programs aim to meet every student at their level, regardless of whether they are pursuing a career in the arts or participating for personal enjoyment and experience.

Currently, summer camps are being conducted for students from 3rd through 12th grades. Individual lessons will continue throughout the summer, with group classes resuming in September.

For additional details regarding the classes on offer, cost, and the experienced instructors for each course, please visit https://steelriver.coursestorm.com/. If you're interested in upcoming productions, ticketing information, or volunteer opportunities, go to www.steelriver.org or contact us at [email protected]g.

Community Celebrates Safe Return of Ollie the Owl After Seven-Week Search in Boyertown, Pennsylvania

The community in Boyertown, Pennsylvania is rejoicing after the safe return of Ollie the Owl, a white barn owl that went missing seven weeks ago during a birds of prey demonstration at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, Montgomery County.

Following his disappearance, the community rallied to find Ollie, posting signs, listening for owl sounds at night, and submitting tips.

The search ended successfully when a young girl named Shayla found Ollie in a barn.

To celebrate his safe return, community members gathered at Boyertown Park, where they had the opportunity to see Ollie, now back in the care of his owner. The community expressed their relief and happiness, acknowledging that their collective efforts made the reunion possible.

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Costco Tightens Enforcement of Membership Rules to Boost Profits and Ensure Fair Pricing

Retail giant Costco has declared a stricter enforcement of its membership rules in order to enhance its profits. As it stands, approximately 69 million households hold an annual membership to Costco, which permits the cardholder and one other person from the same household to shop in the store. However, some customers had been exploiting the system by borrowing someone else's card and using the self-checkout to evade detection.

To combat this, Costco is now conducting random checks at self-checkout counters to deter non-members.

The company emphasized that membership fees are crucial in offsetting operational expenses, allowing them to maintain low prices, and it is unfair for non-members to reap the same benefits and pricing as members. This move follows similar actions by other membership-based companies like Netflix, which has also recently enforced tighter restrictions on password sharing.

Upcoming Local Events

• Line Dancing at SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook June 27 6:30-10:30 PM

• Psychic Development and Mediumship June 28, 7-9PM EDT (SoulJoel’s at SunnyBrook)

• Acoustic Ferrari Live @ Sly Fox Pottstown, June 28th 6-9PM at Sly Fox Pottstown

• The 5th Annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival June 30th, 5PM - 8PM

• Juja De at JJ Ratigan Brewing Company, June 30th, 7-10 PM

• Donnie Baker Headlines at SoulJoel's Comedy Dome, July 1st, Doors open at 6PM

• Mike Britt returns to headline inside SoulJoel’s at SunnyBrook, July 1st, 8PM

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Phils Take on the Chicago Cubs at 8:05 PM EDT

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