Berks County Launches Program to Assist Homeowners and Landlords with Critical Home Repairs

Berks County has launched a program to provide financial assistance to homeowners and small landlords for critical home repairs.

The program, funded by the state, will distribute over $3.6 million in loans to help cover a range of repairs, from minor fixes to major renovations. Eligible repairs include roofs, windows, structural elements, sidewalks, and more.

The program aims to improve housing conditions, energy efficiency, and accessibility for residents with disabilities. The initiative will be managed by the Berks County Redevelopment Authority in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. 

Applicants must meet income requirements, and homeowners are expected to reside in the improved dwelling for at least ten years to have the loan forgiven. Landlords will receive no-interest, deferred payment loans. Interested individuals can find application forms on the Berks County Whole Home Repair website.

Pottstown Community Action Offers Love Your Block Pottstown Mini-Grants for Community Projects

Pottstown Community Action (PCA) is pleased to announce the second year of Love Your Block Pottstown mini-grants, inviting all Pottstown Borough residents to apply.

The grants, ranging from $250 to $1,500, aim to support projects within the borough that focus on removing blight, enhancing aesthetics, improving quality of life, and fostering community engagement. The ultimate goal is to transform neighborhoods block by block.

Eligible projects may include revitalizing buildings, improving vacant lots, organizing cleanups, enhancing porch lighting, creating murals, landscaping, and repairing or repainting porches and fences. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply and rally their neighbors to volunteer.

The application deadline is July 31, and detailed information can be found at www.pottstowncommunityaction.org/Love-Your-Block. For further assistance, please reach out via email to [email protected].

The application process will require personal and property release waivers, as well as an itemized budget. Applicants have the option to apply online or submit a printed application.

Love Your Block Pottstown is generously funded by the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. Pottstown holds the distinction of being a Love Your Block Alumni city under Cities of Service, a national program that provides annual grants to selected cities. This year, the LYB program is overseen by Saroj Chettri, a founder of Pottstown Community Action, and Ashlee Pyne, the group's AmeriCorps Summer VISTA member.

For further communication and engagement, Pottstown Community Action can be contacted via email, the Facebook group, the Facebook page, or by attending their monthly community meetings. The upcoming meeting will take place on July 10 at 6 p.m. in the Barth Garden, located at 467 West Walnut St., west of Rt. 100. All community members are welcome to attend. Monthly meetings are typically held on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m.

Pottstown Man Arrested for Stalking and Harassment

Late Thursday night, Russell F. Noll, a 65-year-old resident of Pottstown in Montgomery County, was apprehended by the Lower Pottsgrove Township police for charges of stalking and harassment.

The arrest took place at Noll's residence on Dogwood Court at 10:38 p.m.

Following his arrest, Noll was taken to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, where he awaits arraignment on one count of stalking and three counts of harassment.

Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Reckless Gun Behavior Leading to Friend's Death in Pottstown

A 19-year-old man from Philadelphia has pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree murder and attempted murder in connection with a shooting incident in Pottstown.

Kahseem Williams admitted that his reckless behavior with a gun contributed to the death of his friend, Dakari Rome, and the injury of another individual.

The incident, which occurred during a botched robbery attempt, resulted in Williams being sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison. The court emphasized the extreme risk and disregard for human life displayed by Williams, who passed the firearm around among a group of juveniles and young adults.

The defense lawyer acknowledged Williams' remorse and the tragic loss of life but recognized the need for punishment. Williams avoided a potential life sentence by pleading guilty to third-degree murder, while other charges were dropped.

A co-defendant, Jahme Barnes, is still awaiting trial on homicide-related charges. The investigation relied on witness statements and video surveillance footage to reconstruct the events leading up to the shooting. The autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest, and the recovered evidence supported the victims' accounts and the bullet's trajectory.

Suspect Accused of Trafficking Stolen Human Body Parts Seeks Trial Delay

Joshua Taylor, a resident of Spring Township, who is facing charges related to an alleged scheme involving the theft and sale of human body parts from Harvard Medical School, has requested a 60-day extension to file pretrial motions.

The trial, initially scheduled to begin on August 7, may be postponed as Taylor's attorneys seek additional time. Taylor is one of six individuals indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the case. While he has pleaded not guilty, the request for a trial delay signals a potential shift in the proceedings.

Upcoming Local Events

• NIGHTWOLF / Free Outdoor Show at Rivet! July 8th - 6-10 PM

• Warehouse Warriors / Free Outdoor Show at Rivet! July 14th - 6-10PM

• 5th Annual Lew’s Crew Ride for Veteran & First Responder Suicide Awareness - July 15th, 9AM-4PM

• The Alley Arts & Craft July Event - July 30th, 12PM-5PM

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David Joseph Hritz, 78, husband of Mary A. Kashmer, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at his home in Trappe.

PHILLIES

Phillies' Cristian Pache Hits Game-Winning Home Run, Extends Road Victory Streak

Cristian Pache, pinch-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies, fulfilled his prediction earlier in the week by delivering a crucial home run in his first at-bat against the Miami Marlins. Pache's two-run homer in the ninth inning propelled the Phillies to a 4-3 comeback victory, extending their road winning streak to 13 games, matching a franchise record.

Pache had confidently shared with his teammates that he would hit a home run in Miami, and he fulfilled that promise with his first swing of the game. The Phillies, fresh off a three-game sweep of the AL-leading Rays, closed the gap to 1.5 games behind the second-place Marlins in the NL East standings. The division is currently led by the Atlanta Braves.

The last time Philadelphia achieved a 13-game road winning streak was from April 17 to June 2, 1976.

Trailing 3-1 entering the ninth inning, the Phillies mounted a rally as J.T. Realmuto led off with a single against Marlins reliever A.J. Puk. Realmuto advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Alec Bohm's one-out double drove him in, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. After a strikeout by pinch-hitter Josh Harrison, it was Pache's turn to shine.

The 24-year-old Pache, in a pinch-hit appearance, cleared the fence with a 0-1 pitch to center field, securing his first career pinch-hit home run and propelling the Phillies to victory.

Philadelphia's starting pitcher, Zack Wheeler, allowed seven hits, three runs, and struck out seven over his outing. Jeff Hoffman took over in the seventh inning and earned the win by pitching two scoreless innings. Craig Kimbrel closed out the game with a scoreless ninth, recording his 14th save.

For the Marlins, ace Sandy Alcantara performed well, surrendering eight hits, one run, and striking out five in his final start before the All-Star break. However, he gave up a solo home run to Realmuto in the sixth, reducing Miami's lead to 3-1.

Despite Miami's early two-run lead in the second inning, courtesy of RBIs by Jacob Stallings and rookie Dane Myers, Garrett Cooper extended the advantage with a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning. He also contributed a single in the sixth.

In the seventh inning, NL All-Star starter Luis Arraez, currently leading the MLB in batting average with .386, delivered a two-out single. Fans at the Marlins' home ballpark even chanted "MVP" during his at-bats.

The Phillies saw contributions from Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, each with one hit in the game.

Reading Fightin Phils Secure 4-2 Victory over Somerset

The Reading Fightin Phils emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over the Somerset team on Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark.

In the third inning, Reading scored three runs, building a lead that they successfully maintained throughout the game. Nick Podkul, Carlos De La Cruz, and Casey Martin contributed two hits each, with De La Cruz driving in two runs for the Fightin Phils.

With this win, Reading has won three out of the first four games against the Eastern League first-half division champions. The two teams are set to face each other again on Saturday, with Reading aiming to secure a series win.

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