Erik Sawchuk Named New Assistant Principal at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School

The Pottsgrove School District is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Erik Sawchuk as the new Assistant Principal at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School!

Mr. Sawchuk makes his return to Lower Pottsgrove Elementary following a one-year tenure as Dean of Students at Pottsgrove Middle School.

Before his time at the middle school, Mr. Sawchuk devoted four years as an Instructional Support Team Specialist and twelve years as a fifth-grade teacher at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary. During these years, he played a crucial role in the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) aimed at equipping students with the necessary tools for academic success and life skills. He was also integral in the deployment of Positive Behavior Interventions and Systems (PBIS), a research-backed framework dedicated to teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors for all students.

Mr. Sawchuk earned his Master's degree in Educational Instruction from Gratz College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Elizabethtown College. Further, he obtained a School Principal K-12 Certification from Point Park University.

Embracing his new role as a building administrator, Mr. Sawchuk is eager to return to Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School, the very place where he kick-started his career 17 years ago. He looks forward to continuing to serve our district and community alongside the remarkable school staff. 🌟

Please join us in extending a warm welcome back to Lower, Mr. Erik Sawchuk!

Amity Township Athletic Club Completes Major Renovation of Swimming Facilities, Ensuring Continued Legacy

The Amity Township Athletic Club has recently concluded a significant renovation of its swimming facilities, solidifying its presence in the Douglassville area for years to come. The revitalized baby pool was unveiled to the public on July 4 during a festive event that included various activities for both children and adults.

Karen LeBlanc, the president of the athletic club, expressed the importance of this project, as the baby pool was in dire need of repair. Instead of continued patchwork, the decision was made to completely rebuild the pool and also install a new above-ground filtration system, replacing the aging underground system that often malfunctioned.

The total cost of both renovations amounted to approximately $175,000, financed through a bank loan. Despite challenges faced by many community swimming pools, the Amity Township Athletic Club has maintained a steady membership base over the years, mainly attributed to its 30-acre central location, diverse amenities, and active involvement in various sports programs.

LeBlanc shared that during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period, there were concerns about losing members, but to their surprise, families stayed home more and some even joined the club. The Athletic Club prides itself on being a unique and attractive destination, offering a main pool, a baby pool, a 25-meter lap pool, dual diving boards, pool slides, a concession stand, playground, volleyball area, and basketball courts. Additionally, the club hosts a swim team, soccer and basketball programs, and TOPS soccer for children with special needs.

You’re Invited To Join the Pottstown Local Scoop - Official Community Discussion Group on Facebook

We’re so glad you’ve joined the Pottstown Local Scoop - Official Community Discussion Group! This group was created as a place for residents to come together and discuss everything happening in our great town.

Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or just moved to Pottstown, we’re excited to have you as part of this community forum. Here are a few things we hope you’ll use this group for:

• Share local news and events - help your neighbors stay in the know!

• Recommend your favorite local businesses - help support our local economy

• Ask questions and get advice about the area

• Join or organize community groups and meetings

• Stay up to date on town issues and developments

• Connect with fellow residents who share your interests

• And more! Everything Pottstown-related is welcome.

This group is for residents to discuss news, events, businesses, issues, and anything else related to our town. Let’s keep the conversations friendly, relevant, and productive.

We can’t wait to see members sharing local insights, tips, and perspectives.

Introduce yourself in the comments!

• What brought you to Pottstown?

• What do you love about the town?

• What would you like to see happen here in the future?

Thanks for being part of this community forum. We’re looking forward to the great discussions ahead!

Jury Permitted to Hear Evidence of Prior Criminal Charges and Attempted Silencing in Murder Trial of Royersford Man

The jury in the case of a Royersford man accused of stabbing his estranged girlfriend to death in front of her children will be allowed to hear evidence about his criminal charges in Brazil and his attempt to silence her from going to the police.

However, the jury won't be informed about the specific murder allegations.

The defendant faces charges of first and third-degree murder. The trial is set to begin later this month. The victim's young daughter, who witnessed the attack, is expected to testify.

The judge rejected a request to change the trial venue, citing minimal pre-trial publicity.

Amity Township Man Charged with Stealing Over $18,000 in Customer Receipts at Wawa Store

A 62-year-old man from Amity Township, Gamalier Soto Jr., has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing over $18,000 in customer receipts while working as a cashier at a Wawa store in Douglassville.

The store manager reported the thefts to the police, and during a conversation with a Wawa senior loss prevention adviser, Soto admitted to stealing money from the register by voiding transactions.

After investigators presented evidence, Soto confessed to stealing money over the course of approximately one month.

He has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property. Soto is awaiting a hearing following his arraignment.

Constellation Energy Corporation Supports Student Success with $25,000 Gift

TRIO Upward Bound Students learn about the Limerick Generating Station Operations

Constellation Energy Corporation is building a stronger future for students and the community through its generous gift totaling $25,000 for student scholarships and the TRIO Upward Bound Program at Montgomery County Community College.

Constellation strives to make an impact in the communities it serves and where its employees live and work. According to its website, Constellation contributed a total of $12.5 million in 2022 in combined company and employee giving in support of more than 3,300 charities and organizations. Constellation initially presented a gift of $10,000 for MCCC student scholarships in academic year 2023-2024.

Then, through a mutual community partner, the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, MCCC and Constellation crossed paths again. Nora Embert, Organizational Effectiveness Manager at Constellation’s Limerick Generating Station, and Angela Scott Ferencin, MCCC’s Student Support Programs Manager, were among the 23 members of the Leadership TriCounty Class of 2023, which is led by Director Jenna Armato, Growth & Success Coach. As they participated in the 10-month program, Embert and Scott Ferencin got to know each other and realized they and their employers shared similar missions.

“Nora and I share a passion for helping young people achieve their goals,” Scott Ferencin said. “While in the Leadership Program, Nora shared Constellation’s commitment to the same values.”

One of the programs Scott Ferencin manages is the TRIO Upward Bound Program at MCCC. This program is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Programs that serve low-income, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities by helping them successfully progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

At MCCC, students in the TRIO Upward Bound Program learn and develop skills, study habits, discipline and attitude to succeed in high school and college. Students receive academic advising; courses in career readiness, English, science and math; virtual college and museum tours; tutoring; and the opportunity to take free college courses. The program is available to qualifying students from the Norristown Area and Pottstown school districts at no cost to them. Currently, 63 students are participating in the program at MCCC.

“I first learned of the TRIO Upward Bound program when I met Angela in the Leadership Tri-County Program,” said Embert. “She shared with the class the mission of Upward Bound and it resonated with Constellation’s Work Force Development Program. We’ve been working over the last two years to build relationships with local schools to support underserved students with a passion for STEM. We already had a relationship with MCCC and Pottstown High School. Adding in Upward Bound program seemed like the next logical step.”

Her colleague, Laura Lynch, Sr. Manager Radiation Protection at the Limerick Generating Station, concurs.

“One of my favorite things about working for Constellation, especially at Limerick Generating Station, is the connection to the community and knowing that the work we do here at the Station is supporting our community,” said Lynch. “I can’t think of a better way to provide support beyond power generation to our neighboring community than to support MCCC and the Upward Bound program. Supporting these sorts of programs ensures we continue to build future generations as advocates for climate changes and STEM fields in general.”

As a result, Constellation presented a gift of $5,000 to the TRIO Upward Bound Program and another $10,000 gift for MCCC student scholarships for academic year 2024-2025.

Several students from the TRIO Upward Bound Program recently visited the Limerick Generating Station to learn more about its operations through a hands-on experience in the simulator room, which is used for training employees. Each student was assigned a role during the practice simulation. In addition to learning about the generating station, the students saw and heard about different career opportunities.

“It was a pleasure having the students visit Limerick Generation Station,” Embert said. “We showed them around the simulator and even had them perform a rapid plant shutdown. I’m excited to see what this partnership will bring in the future.”

The visiting students included:

Mark Ellison, President of Pottstown High School’s Class of 2023. He will be attending Ursinus College to participate in their dual degree program with Columbia University and majoring in Environmental Engineering.

Talia Riley, who graduated from Norristown Area High School and will be attending MCCC to major in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Jaiden Stinson, who also graduated from Norristown Area High School and will be attending West Chester University to major in Business

Jeremiah McCray, who is a junior at Norristown Area High School and is the President of the Class of 2024; he received an internship at DLL Financial Solutions and is interested in majoring in Education and Engineering

Rahiyely Garcia Torres, who is a junior at Norristown Area High School and is the Vice President of the Class of 2024; she also received an internship at DLL Financial Solutions and plans to pursue a law career.

Since 2007, more than 880 students have participated in the TRIO Upward Bound Program at MCCC. The goals for participants include increasing academic performance, improving performance on standardized tests, increasing secondary school retention and graduation rates and increasing postsecondary attendance and completion rates.

About Constellation

A Fortune 200 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: CEG) is the nation’s largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services to businesses, homes, community aggregations and public sector customers across the continental United States, including three fourths of Fortune 100 companies. With annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, our hydro, wind and solar facilities paired with the nation’s largest nuclear fleet have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 15 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation’s clean energy. We are further accelerating the nation’s transition to a carbon-free future by helping our customers reach their sustainability goals, setting our own ambitious goal of achieving 100% carbon-free generation by 2040, and by investing in promising emerging technologies to eliminate carbon emissions across all sectors of the economy. Follow Constellation on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Limerick

Limerick Generating Station's two nuclear reactors, located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, can produce up to 2,317 megawatts (MW) of zero-emissions energy, enough carbon-free electricity to power the equivalent of more than 1.7 million homes. Limerick sits on a 600-acre site and draws its cooling water from the Schuylkill River.

About the Montgomery County Community College Foundation

Established in 1983, the Montgomery County Community College Foundation provides scholarships for deserving students, grants for faculty projects, equipment and technology, emergency funds for students in need, support for cultural enrichment activities on campus and financial resources for other college programs and activities. The Foundation is able to make a difference in the lives of our students thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, community friends, private foundations and corporations. To see how you can make a difference and discuss how your gift can be most meaningful to you, contact the Foundation at 215-641-6324 or [email protected].

About Montgomery County Community College

For more than 50 years, Montgomery County Community College has grown with the community to meet the evolving educational needs of Montgomery County. The College’s comprehensive curriculum includes more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as customized workforce training and certifications. Students enjoy the flexibility of learning at the College’s thriving campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, and online.

As an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction, the institution is positioned at the vanguard of national efforts to remove barriers to access, improve learning outcomes, and increase completion for all students. For the seven years, MCCC has been named one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges in the nation by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development for its commitment to diversity through inclusive learning and work environments, student and staff recruitment and retention practices, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.mc3.edu.

Paul Reubens, Beloved Actor and Comedian Known for Pee-wee Herman, Passes Away at 70 After Private Battle with Cancer

Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian famous for his character Pee-wee Herman, has passed away at the age of 70 after a private six-year battle with cancer.

Reubens' iconic Pee-wee character became a cultural phenomenon through films and TV shows in the 1980s.

He first created Pee-wee as part of The Groundlings improv group in the late 1970s. Despite facing challenges, including an indecent exposure arrest, Reubens remained beloved by fans and continued to portray Pee-wee Herman in various projects. His unique talent and ability to make both children and adults laugh have been widely celebrated in tributes from fellow comedians and fans.

National Night Out - Kimberton Fire Company & Fairgrounds

Tonight, August 1st, 2023, from 6pm to 9pm, East Pikeland Township Police Department and Kimberton Fire Company are hosting National Night Out.

This FREE event is at Kimberton Firehouse, located at 61 Firehouse Lane, Phoenixville.

There will be emergency vehicles, a dunk tank, water balloon match against police and much more!

Upcoming Local Events

• National Night Out - Kimberton Fire Company & Fairgrounds - TUESDAY, AUGUST 1st, 6 PM – 9 PM

• Open Mic at SoulJoel's - TUESDAY AUGUST 1st, 7 PM

• Trivia Tuesday's at Gatsby's Pub - Tuesday, Aug 1st - 7 - 9 PM

• Line Dancing at SunnyBrook Ballroom - TUESDAY AUGUST 1st, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

• A Night with Spirit at SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook- Wednesday, AUG 2nd - 7 PM – 9 PM

• Comedy Fundraiser Night at SoulJoel's inside Sunnybrook - THURSDAY, AUGUST 3rd · 7:00 PM EDT

• Stephanie Grace Live at Island Pizza - THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2023 AT 6 PM

• Free 3v3 Teen Basketball Tournament @ Pottstown YMCA - Thursday, AUGUST 3, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

• Trivia Night at Iron Gate Biergarten - THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Tara Cannistraci debuts at SoulJoel's Comedy Dome - FRIDAY, AUGUST 4th · 8:00 PM EDT

• Craig Shoemaker at SoulJoel's Comedy Dome - SATURDAY, AUGUST 5th · 7:00 PM EDT

• Island Pizza presents Kricket Comedy - SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2023 AT 7:30 PM

• 1st Sunday Swing Dance Party w/ The Sounds of SunnyBrook

  SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook - SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023 AT 4 PM

• 4th Annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Halloween Flea Market at Leesport Farmers Market - SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023 AT 7 AM

• Doc's 2nd Annual Jeep Jam at Doc's Irish Pub - SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 3 PM – 8 PM

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PHILLIES

Taijuan Walker Leads Phillies to 4-2 Win over Marlins, Becomes First Pitcher with 12 Wins

Taijuan Walker delivered a solid performance, pitching 6 2/3 innings, as the Philadelphia Phillies secured a 4-2 victory against the Miami Marlins in the opening game of their four-game series. With this win, Walker became the first pitcher in the major leagues to reach 12 wins this season. He allowed six hits and two runs while striking out four, extending his impressive record to 12-4.

Alec Bohm had a standout performance for the Phillies, contributing with a double, single, two walks, and an RBI. His efforts helped the team move half a game ahead of the Marlins, securing the third NL wild-card spot.

Miami's Luis Arraez had an outstanding game with three singles, maintaining his major league-leading batting average of .381.

The game took a decisive turn in the seventh inning when Bryson Stott's sacrifice fly broke the tie, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead. The Marlins' Tanner Scott faced a bases-loaded situation after allowing a leadoff walk to Kyle Schwarber and Bohm's double. Stott's well-placed hit to medium left field brought home Schwarber, giving Philadelphia the lead.

The Phillies further solidified their victory with Bohm's run-scoring single in the eighth inning.

Jorge Soler of the Marlins ended his 12-game homerless streak with a powerful two-run shot in the first inning, putting Miami ahead 2-0. The 415-foot home run was Soler's 25th of the season, marking his first homer since July 14.

On the pitching front, Marlins starter Edward Cabrera struggled with control, walking six batters in three-plus innings. He was taken out after throwing 76 pitches and allowed two runs and two hits. Steven Okert relieved Cabrera and inherited two runners, eventually conceding a game-tying two-run double to Johan Rojas. The Phillies' bullpen, including Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman, held strong to secure the win for Taijuan Walker.

Craig Kimbrel closed the game with a perfect ninth inning to earn his 18th save of the season.

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