Reading Liederkranz Competes for Title of Best Oktoberfest in USA TODAY's Top 10 Reader's Choice for 2023

Reading Liederkranz is vying with 20 other competitors to win the title of having the best Oktoberfest celebration in the country.

People can now cast their votes for the USA TODAY Top 10 Reader's Choice Best Oktoberfest 2023, with information available on how to vote and details about the contestants here.

The well-known Oktoberfest at Reading's Liederkranz is celebrated over several days, attracting large crowds who come to enjoy the German food, drink, music, and culture. This annual festivity has built a reputation as one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the nation, even winning the top honor in 2015.

The voting will close on September 4 at noon, and the winners will be revealed on September 15. Make sure to have your say in deciding who will take home the coveted award this year!

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!

“Jackass" Star "Bam" Margera Arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct in Radnor Township

"Bam" Margera, star of the "Jackass" films, was arrested early Wednesday in Radnor Township for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Police were called to the Radnor Hotel parking lot at around 3:30 a.m. where Margera was found to be intoxicated and acting disorderly.

He was taken to the Radnor police station, issued citations, and later released to a friend. This incident follows recent legal troubles in Chester County, where Margera faced charges of threatening family members and assaulting his brother, and had been ordered to stay in Pennsylvania and attend a drug treatment center.

Douglass Man Sentenced to 1-4 Years for Illegally Selling Firearm and Methamphetamine to Undercover Detective

Kevin Kent, a 47-year-old man from Douglass (Mont.), has been sentenced to 1 to 4 years in prison for illegally selling a firearm and methamphetamine to an undercover detective.

The conviction stems from incidents that occurred between June and August 2022, where Kent sold a stolen firearm and methamphetamine during undercover operations.

As part of his sentence, handed down by Judge Wendy G. Rothstein, Kent is eligible for a state drug treatment program. Other charges against Kent were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Apple's iOS 17 Update to Shift Red End-Call Button: A Small Change with Potential Thumb Muscle Memory Challenges

Are you used to ending calls on your iPhone with a simple tap?

Be prepared for a change, as Apple is set to shift the location of the red end-call button with the upcoming iOS 17 updates to the phone app, challenging your thumb's muscle memory.

Currently, the "End" button on an iPhone is situated centrally towards the bottom of the screen, away from other call options. However, with the launch of iOS 17, expected this fall, the red icon will move to the right, and other features will reposition to accompany it.

Though this change was previewed in Apple's iOS 17 guide back in June, attention has grown as some have begun exploring beta versions of the software upgrade. Images from iOS 17 beta versions have been shared by various news outlets, highlighting this small but potentially annoying adjustment.

In addition to the end button's shift, there will be rearrangements to the placement of other call features. For example, the “Mute” and “Speaker” buttons, as well as the “FaceTime” and “Keyboard” options, have been swapped. Additionally, the feature to search for contacts seems to have merged with the add call option.

Social media reactions to these changes have already surfaced, with some users expressing concerns over the inevitable muscle memory errors and anticipating an adjustment period.

As of now, it's uncertain if these call function changes will remain as they are when iOS 17 officially debuts. The Associated Press sought Apple's comment on the matter, but the response is yet to be known.

Apple's beta program allows certain users to test software before it's commercially launched, giving the company valuable feedback to pinpoint and rectify issues. It ensures the smooth release of their products.

Along with these alterations to call icon placements, iOS 17 promises to introduce a host of new features for Apple customers, such as enhanced autocorrect, a novel journal app, and live voicemail transcription, which will even let users pick up and answer as a message is being left.

Upcoming Local Events

• Kids Ice Cream Social with Mario and Bluey - AUGUST 10TH · 6:00 PM

• Karaoke Thursday's at Gatsby's Pub - AUGUST 10TH · 7:00 PM

• Trivia Night at Iron Gate Biergarten - AUGUST 10TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• 21+ Line Dancing @ Island Pizza!! - AUGUST 10TH, 8 PM – 11 PM

• Helping Hands BINGO at Boone Area Library - AUGUST 11TH, 10:15 AM – 11 AM

• Comedy, Music, and Fire under SoulJoel's Comedy Dome - AUGUST 11TH · 7:00 PM

• NCPD's 7th Annual Fallen Heroes' Car Show - AUGUST 12TH, 9AM - 2PM

• DMIG Weekly Pokemon League - AUGUST 12TH, 11:30 AM – 3 PM

• Limerick Community Day 2023 - AUGUST 12TH, 12 PM – 3 PM

• DJ Saturday's at Gatsby's Pub w/ MC ΔT The SunnyBrook Ballroom - AUGUST 12, 9 PM – 11 PM

• Baby Goat Yoga @Birdsboro Farmer’s Market - AUGUST 12, 10 AM

• West Reading French Fry Fest - AUGUST 12TH, 11 AM – 6 PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

Click Here to Let us Know About Your Upcoming Event

PHILLIES

Michael Lorenzen Pitches Stunning No-Hitter in Phillies' 7-0 Victory Over Nationals; Rookie Weston Wilson Homers in MLB Debut

Michael Lorenzen, in only his second appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies, delivered an astonishing no-hitter, marking the 14th such feat in the team's history, as they triumphed over the Washington Nationals 7-0 last Wednesday evening.

At 31 years old, Lorenzen (7-7) notched five strikeouts and four walks, boosting his record to 2-0 following his acquisition from Detroit at the trade deadline in exchange for a minor league player.

Opening the ninth inning, Lorenzen put away Lane Thomas with a grounder and struck out Joey Meneses. An elated crowd of 30,406 spectators went wild when he ended his first career complete game by retiring Dominic Smith with a flyball on his 124th pitch, in a swift game that lasted 2 hours and 9 minutes. He then celebrated exuberantly with teammates near home plate.

Lorenzen humbly noted that luck played a part in his success, saying, “I didn’t strike out the world in this game. When you are pitching, balls can land in different places. I just had God’s grace today.”

Emotions ran high in the stands, with Lorenzen's mother Cheryl and wife Cassi, holding their baby daughter June, shedding tears during the final out.

Praising the fans, Lorenzen commented on the supportive atmosphere, highlighting how it fueled him. He likened the celebration to the scenes at Citizens Bank Park the previous October.

Lorenzen demonstrated his potential to be instrumental in the Phillies' quest for a return to the postseason, especially as they fight the San Francisco Giants for the top wild-card spot.

There were moments where his pitch count raised questions about his ability to finish the game, but he proved himself to be the first Phillies pitcher to accomplish a no-hitter since Cole Hamels on July 25, 2015, against the Cubs.

Reflecting on the early part of the game, Lorenzen admitted his frustrations, thanking his manager Rob Thomson for supporting him.

The Nationals faced a no-hitter for the first time in 19 seasons after moving from Montreal.

In addition to his recent success with the Phillies, Lorenzen, a former All-Star with the Tigers, has performed impressively this season, and has transitioned from a reliever to a starter over the last few years.

His no-hitter was the season's fourth, following those by Houston’s Framber Valdez, New York Yankees’ Domingo Germán, and a combined effort from Detroit’s Matt Manning, Alex Lange, and Jason Foley.

The game also witnessed a milestone for Phillies rookie left fielder Weston Wilson, who hit a home run in his first major league plate appearance, following nearly 2,900 at-bats in the minors.

Nick Castellanos also shone, hitting two home runs to achieve his 200th career homer.

Wilson's solo home run contributed to the Phillies' early lead, and he later scored to extend the margin to 6-0.

Wilson, soon to be 29, was welcomed by teammate Bryce Harper, while his family celebrated from the stands.

The game was also significant for Wilson's career, having spent numerous plate appearances in the minors before being called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

UP NEXT: The Nationals will have LHP Patrick Corbin (7-11, 5.03 ERA) face off against Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (9-8, 4.58).

UNION

Chester's Date with Destiny (and Messi?): The Union's Moneyball Magic and a Leagues Cup Showdown You Won't Believe!

Well, gather 'round, sports fans, and lend an ear to the latest and greatest in the world of football (that's soccer for the uninitiated). The Union, a squad known for playing Moneyball with their lineup, did a real number on Red Bulls.

A penalty shootout led to the victory dance and a ticket to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Think of it as a new potluck dinner of soccer, featuring the finest teams from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Next on the dance card is Queretaro, and if the Union's previous 5-1 mollywhopping of them is anything to go by, Friday night in Chester should be a blast. The game might as well come with a spoiler alert, but let's not count the chickens or the goals before they hatch.

And then, hold onto your scarves and foam fingers, because if the stars align just right, the Union could face none other than Lionel Messi. Yes, THAT Messi, in Chester, no less. Picture Messi, football's equivalent of rock royalty, gracing Chester with his presence on a Tuesday night. It's like getting Mick Jagger to play at your cousin's garage band show. Simply Union-tastic!

Messi's been as hot as a salsa dance floor since joining Miami, and with seven goals in four games, the man is on fire. His footwork with the ball is like a ballet, only with more headbutting. And those free-kick goals? Pure poetry.

Meanwhile, our hometown heroes, the Union, are out there making Wall Street look like child's play with their "moneyball signings." General Manager Ernst Tanner must have a magic wand or a time-traveling DeLorean because he's found talent where no one else even thought to look. It's like shopping at a thrift store and finding a Van Gogh.

So here's the game plan: We need the Union and Miami to bring their A-game. We need a Philly vs. Messi showdown in Chester. We want Messi, we want the Leagues Cup, and frankly, we want a good laugh and a thrilling match. Vamos, indeed!

Let the games begin!

We could use your help

We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!

One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.

Know somebody who lives in the Pottstown Region and would benefit from being kept in the know?

Please share Pottstown Local Scoop with them! It’s simple! 👇👇👇

5