Trivia Tuesday's at Gatsby's Pub

Gatsby's at the Sunnybrook

Trivia Tuesday's at Gatsby's Pub

FREE every Tuesday

7pm-9pm

50 Sunnybrook Rd., Pottstown, PA

Berks County Municipalities Receive Funding for Traffic Signal Upgrades through PennDOT's 'Green Light-Go' Program

Montgomery County's 6-year-old Rory Ehrlich is turning heads with his iconic mullet hairstyle. Out of 900 entries from across the nation, the Pottstown first-grader stands as a finalist for Mulletchamp.com's top mullet award in the under 12 category. Airen Ehrlich, Rory's mother, mentions that her son's hairstyle was influenced by notable Philadelphia Phillies players, including John Kruck.

The local barber, Owen O'Connor, expressed his surprise when Rory requested the mullet. Owen noted a resurgence in the style, with the iconic "business in the front, party in the back" look making a comeback. Historically, mullets have been around since ancient Greece and have been sported by notable figures like Ben Franklin and David Bowie.

The mullet competition, initiated in 2020 by Michigan store owner Kevin Begola, aimed to lift spirits during the COVID pandemic. Growing from an initial 130 participants, the contest has expanded nationally and raised $175,000 this year for the Wounded Warriors project by former NFL star Jared Allen.

Rory has big plans if he wins: he hopes to use the $5,000 prize to purchase an alpaca for his sister Emma, complementing their 10-acre farm. The competition's results will be disclosed on Wednesday.

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!

9-Year-Old Testifies in Chester County Trial Over Mother's Tragic Stabbing by Ex-Boyfriend

In a harrowing trial in Chester County, a 9-year-old girl testified about witnessing her mother, Deborah Brandao, being stabbed by her ex-boyfriend, Danelo Cavalcante.

The attack occurred outside their Schuylkill home after a heated argument. The child managed to seek help from a neighbor, leading to a 911 call. Brandao tragically died from her injuries, with Cavalcante now facing charges including first-degree murder.

While Cavalcante admitted to the stabbing, there's contention about whether it was premeditated. The trial, which has highlighted potential failures in the system to protect Brandao in the past, is expected to conclude by Thursday.

Former Pottstown Resident Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Sexual Assault in the 1990s

Gary Raymond Steck Sr., a 65-year-old previously from Pottstown and recently of The Villages, Florida, has been handed a 15 to 30-year prison sentence after confessing to sexually assaulting a minor multiple times between 1996 and 2000. The sentencing took place in Montgomery County Court, where Steck pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of a person under 13 years of age.

Judge Risa Vetri Ferman mandated an additional three years of probation for Steck upon his release. Furthermore, Steck has been instructed not to establish any contact with the victim. In accordance with Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, he will have to report his address to state police for the rest of his life and adhere to treatment suggestions based on a psychosexual evaluation.

The crimes came to light when the victim, now 33, reported the past assaults to Pottstown police in January 2022. Assistant District Attorney Karla Pisarcik revealed that the birth of the victim's child motivated her to step forward. Pisarcik also emphasized the profound and lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse on victims.

The first instance of abuse, as recalled by the victim, took place when she was around 7. Steck had shown her explicit adult content and subsequently forced her into sexual activities. During the inquiry in February 2022, Steck admitted to the allegations when confronted over a recorded phone call, although he tried to downplay the severity by attributing it to a "reckless lifestyle."

Abigail Leeds represented Steck in court, while Pisarcik lauded the Pottstown police for their investigation's success.

Former Birdsboro-Union Fire Department Treasurer Accused of Embezzling $900,000 for Gambling

Former treasurer Kenneth J. Long of the Birdsboro-Union Fire Department is facing charges for allegedly embezzling nearly $900,000 from the department to support his gambling addiction.

The misappropriation, spanning from 2016 to the present, was discovered through a forensic accounting audit. The volunteer fire company, formed in 2009, primarily serves Birdsboro and Union Township. Its annual budget is around $300,000, funded through various sources including local taxes and grants.

Reading City Council Approves Land Sale, Liquor License Transfer, and One-Way Street for College Dorm

On Monday, the Reading City Council greenlit the sale of an 8-acre city property near the Berks County Regional Airport to Colin and Connie Wyatt for $27,000. The Wyatts, who own adjacent land, intend to use this non-developable plot, situated between the airport runway and the Schuylkill River, for a driveway. The initial sale price proposed was $20,000, but this was increased after council deliberations. Despite the property's appraisal at $40,000, the inability to develop it meant the city solicitor did not consider the valuation fitting.

Additionally, the council approved a liquor license transfer to Skylight Cuisine & Bar on 600 Penn Street, a fine-dining establishment with Latin and international dishes. Due to the city exceeding its liquor license quota, this license was moved from Kings Restaurant Group in Hamburg to Skylight Cuisine & Bar, which will occupy a previously used restaurant space.

The council also sanctioned the conversion of the 1800 block of North 12th Street into a one-way route to facilitate a new dormitory for Albright College.

St. Paul's Peach Festival

When: AUGUST 19TH, 3 PM – 8 PM
Where: 1979 Weavertown Rd, Douglassville, PA 19518

St. Paul's UCC of Amityville's 40th Annual Peach Festival featuring live entertainment from 3:00 to 8:00.

Peaches, Ice Cream, Peach Cobbler, Pies, Cakes, Variety of Food and Drinks, Games for All Ages, and White Elephant Sale beginning at 8:00 am.

Upcoming Local Events

• Trivia Tuesday's at Gatsby's Pub - AUGUST 15TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Line Dancing at SunnyBrook Ballroom - AUGUST 15TH, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

• Paint and Sip with Brandon Pizzola - SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook - AUGUST 16TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• North End Swim Team Comedy Fundraiser at SoulJoel's - SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook - AUGUST 17TH, 7 PM

• Trivia Night - Iron Gate Biergarten - AUGUST 17,TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• A Night of Music from Ursula The Pipe Organ - The SunnyBrook Ballroom - AUGUST 17TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Bonnie McFarlane returns to headline at SoulJoel's Comedy Dome - AUGUST 18TH, 7 PM

• Butterfly Festival 2023 at Colonial Gardens - AUGUST 19th, 9 AM – 5 PM

• Los Gios @ Manatawny Creek Winery - AUGUST 19TH, 1 PM – 5 PM

• St. Paul's Peach Festival - AUGUST 19TH, 3 PM – 8 PM

• Philadelphia Oddities & Curiosities Expo 2023 - AUGUST 19TH, 10 AM

• Dave Attell Returns to SoulJoel's Comedy Dome @ SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook - AUGUST 19TH, 6 PM

• Designer Bag Bingo supporting Trilogy BMX Park - State Street Entertainment Hall - AUGUST 19TH, 6:30 PM

• Food Truck Festival - Bear Creek Mountain - AUGUST 20TH, 12 PM – 5 PM

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