TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce To Host Members Ice Cream Social

In honor of National Ice Cream Month, TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce Members are invited to "Chill at the Chamber" with the TriCounty Area Chamber staff, Board of Directors, and fellow Chamber Members.

This Ice Cream Social is an open networking event. Stop in for an ice cream and a chance to chat with other Members.

We're offering 3 time slots to attend during this event. Upon registration, please select the time you can join us.

•  11 a.m.- 12 p.m.

• 12:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.

• 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Members are encouraged to Register for This Event Here

Quakertown Triumphs Over Boyertown in Thrilling Opener of Pennsylvania Region 2 Legion Tournament

In an exhilarating first round of the Pennsylvania Region 2 Legion Tournament, Quakertown eked out a 6-5 victory over host Boyertown, courtesy of a deciding run scored in the seventh inning. This nail-biter was held at Bear Stadium early on Sunday.

The Bears are now scheduled to face off against North Parkland, a team that suffered a heavy 9-0 defeat to North Parkland on Saturday, in a game scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday that will determine their continued participation in the tournament.

The first elimination game will feature a matchup between Northampton and South Parkland, kicking off at 11 a.m.

During the pivotal seventh inning, Ty Everitt from Quakertown initiated the action with a walk. After an ensuing strikeout, Peyton Meyers hit a right-field single, putting runners on the first and third bases. It was Cooper Natisin's sacrifice fly to the center field that sealed the deal for Quakertown.

Boyertown had previously managed to establish a 2-1 lead in the second inning, thanks to an RBI single from Gavin Slaughter and an RBI double by Max Kneidinger.

Quakertown regained control in the third inning by scoring three runs, which put them in the lead with a score of 4-2. They further consolidated their lead with an additional run in the fourth, making it 5-2.

In a remarkable turnaround, the Bears evened the score in the sixth inning. Logan Barndt scored following his one-out double, bolstered by a double from Steven Colucci. Patrick McNeill's RBI single added another run, and pinch-runner Nick Ellis completed the comeback by stealing second and third before crossing the plate on a single by Randy Wynings.

Belt Sander Races: A Unique Fundraising Event Returns to Berks County for Its 31st Year

Exeter Township, Pennsylvania witnessed a unique race event return to Berks County this past Saturday, with the cause being just as important as the competition.

The Belt Sander Races, an annual spectacle, took place at New Bertie's Inn, all in aid of a local nonprofit organization named Mary's Shelter.

The establishment, Bertie's, kindly supplied handheld belt sanders and sandpaper for the contest. Participants tested their nerve and skill by riding these belt sanders along a 40-foot plywood track.

The Inn's owner, Patty Miravich, spoke highly of the exhilarating atmosphere, acknowledging the contagious excitement and support as competitors went head to head, each vying for the win amid cheers and celebrations.

Marking its 31st year, the Belt Sander Races show no sign of slowing down, continuing to provide a quirky, enjoyable event for a noble cause.

Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' Achieves Franchise-Best Opening Despite Missing Industry Projections

"Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One" premiered to a solid $80 million over five days, achieving a franchise record despite falling slightly short of industry predictions with its $56.2 million take over the three-day weekend. The film's launch followed a worldwide promotional tour by the film's star, Tom Cruise.

International sales played a crucial role in the film's debut, with the Paramount Pictures film amassing $155 million across 70 markets. Despite this, the global launch of $235 million, one of the strongest this year, fell short of the momentum created by last summer’s top movie, “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Projections had placed "Dead Reckoning Part One," the seventh installment of the 27-year-old franchise, above the series' previous peak with "Fallout," which earned $61 million domestically at its 2018 opening. However, it also failed to surpass the $57.8 million debut of "Mission: Impossible II" in 2000.

This puts the film's inaugural weekend revenue on par with the lukewarm launch of Disney's “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," which grossed $82 million over five days and $60 million over the three-day weekend. Both Paramount and Skydance had bigger aspirations for the high-budget "Dead Reckoning," a $290 million production before considering marketing costs.

The film, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, was among the first major productions halted by COVID-19. As it resumed production, McQuarrie and Cruise were at the forefront of the industry's return to filming, despite some notable disagreements over protocols.

Despite these obstacles, "Dead Reckoning" earned praise as a series highlight. Critics and fans alike were captivated by the film's thrilling stunts and chases, earning it a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A" CinemaScore. With the anticipation building around "Barbenheimer"— the upcoming "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" releases— "Mission: Impossible" is expected to hold its ground in the coming weeks.

Cruise, celebrated for reviving movie theaters last year, worked relentlessly to reenergize a somewhat lethargic summer box office. After a lavish world premiere in Rome, Cruise and McQuarrie visited theaters in Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, and Washington D.C. ahead of the film's release.

The performance of "Dead Reckoning," alongside "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in the coming weeks, will play a pivotal role in shaping the summer box office.

No other new release competed with “Mission: Impossible” over the weekend. The faith-based political thriller from Angel Studios, "Sound of Freedom," secured second place with a 37% increase to $27 million in its second weekend. The previous week's top film, "Insidious: The Red Door," slid to third place with $13 million, while “Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny” is on a downward trend, earning $12 million on its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $145.4 million.

Look for tomorrow’s issue as we have a comprehensive list of upcoming events lined up…

Here’s just a few…

Upcoming Local Events

• Build Community Partnerships for More Exposure - July 18th - 4-5pm eastern, via zoom

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

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

Click Here to Let us Know About Your Upcoming Event

PHILLIES

Philadelphia witnessed an exciting baseball encounter on Sunday, where Kyle Schwarber's 25th home run and a 12th-inning sacrifice fly led the Philadelphia Phillies to a thrilling 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.

The defending NL champions, building on their momentum, secured three consecutive wins against the Padres, despite initially losing to them at the start of the second half. The Padres' overall record took another hit, falling to 44-60, including a 19-27 road record.

The Phillies, now at a 51-42 standing, impressively bounced back from a 3-0 deficit, only to lose a 5-3 lead later when Fernando Tatis Jr. achieved a two-run single in the eighth off Gregory Soto. Further drama unfolded as Juan Soto and Bryce Harper both contributed with a sacrifice fly and a tying single, respectively.

The 12th inning commenced with automatic runner Edmundo Sosa on second base. After Johan Rojas' sacrifice, Schwarber secured the game with a 304-foot fly to Soto in the left, with Sosa sliding home ahead of Soto's throw. Tim Hill (1-4) was the unfortunate pitcher against this decisive move.

Jeff Hoffman (3-1) showcased an exceptional performance, retiring six consecutive batters.

The game also saw the Padres' manager Bob Melvin being ejected in the 12th inning for a pitch-clock violation, marking his fifth ejection this season and 59th overall in his career.

The Phillies' starter, Zack Wheeler, delivered a commendable performance, conceding only three runs and five hits in seven innings, achieving seven strikeouts with no walks.

Both Ha-Seong Kim and Xander Bogaerts helped the Padres gain an early lead with their 11th homers, while Trent Grisham expanded it to 3-0 with an RBI double.

A shift in momentum came from the Phillies, as Bryson Stott's home run and Schwarber's powerful strike spurred a four-run sixth. J.T. Realmuto's two-run double led to Seth Lugo's departure, followed by a bases-loaded walk off from Drew Ellis.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced that Bryce Harper is expected to play his first major league game at first base in the upcoming week, marking his first fielding assignment since his Tommy John surgery last November.

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